WALPOLE, Mass. — Police say a man fired shots after an attempted traffic stop-turned-pursuit from Norwood into Walpole Monday night, which ended when the suspect crashed into a utility pole and seriously injured his head with one of the rounds he fired.
Norwood Police tried to make a stop around 11:20 p.m. Monday when the suspect fled onto Route 1A south and traveled several miles until hitting a utility pole at Rte. 1A and Kendall Street in Walpole, and a police cruiser, according to a news release from Walpole Police.
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Police identified the suspect as 31-year-old Steven Brant, of Norwood.
Walpole Police said after the crash "multiple gunshots were fired from pursuit vehicle." Officers did not return fire and were not injured during the incident. Walpole Police Chief John Carmichael said later that five to six shell casings were recovered.
Police initially said one of the shots Brant fired grazed him, but Carmichael said later the injury was more serious and the bullet was lodged in his head. Brant was transported to a Boston hospital where he's undergoing surgery. Police did not say whether the injury was intentional or accidental but said the shot was fired from the suspect's vehicle.
Carmichael noted Brant had been in a pursuit with Walpole and Norwood police before. In 2016, police attempted to stop him for outstanding warrants and he took off, bumping an officer with his vehicle. Brant fled on the same route he took Monday, and in that prior incident, he also crashed into a pole.
Police say Brant will face multiple charges and is expected to be arraigned Wednesday.
Carmichael said failure to stop for a police officer in Massachusetts is currently a $100 fine but he wants the state to make it a more serious offense.
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