Shrewsbury police arrest driver of U-Haul loaded with stolen goods after dangerous police chase ends in crash

SHREWSBURY — Shrewsbury police reported that on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, a man later identified as Stephen Dupont was driving a 2017 GMC Savana U-Haul truck with Arizona plates through town.

(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Statement of Facts of Officer Brandon Bourette and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)

“Mr. Dupont did fail to stop at the white in color stop line while leaving the CVS (197 Boston Turnpike) and pulling onto Harrington Avenue, a public way in the Town of Shrewsbury,” Officer Brandon Bourette said. “The CVS was currently open for business as two patrons leaving had to quickly jump out of the way of the vehicle. A motor vehicle stop was initiated, Mr. Dupont then made a marked lanes violation as the center of the vehicle straddled the diving traffic line in the area of 35 Harrington Avenue, failing to stop for the emergency blue lights and sirens.”

Officer Bourette said the vehicle then accelerated toward the intersection of Old Mill Road.

“Mr. Dupont failed to come to a stop at this intersection and was driving more than 50 miles per hour on Old Mill Road, weaving around and through traffic,” Officer Bourette said. “Mr. Dupont continued right onto Main Street and up towards the center of town where he accelerated more than 40 miles per hour as he drove around multiple vehicles, then taking a right onto Grafton Street southbound.”

According to police, Stephen M. Dupont, 48, is a resident of 12 Colonial Drive, Apt. 1, Millbury, MA.

According to Officer Bourette, Dupont continued driving negligently, swerving around other vehicles, including marked patrol cars responding northbound. Officer Matthew Mattero was driving one of the cruisers Dupont allegedly nearly struck.

“Officer Mattero had to quickly turn his vehicle to the right before calling out via radio that the male operator attempted to ram his vehicle with the truck,” Officer Bourette stated. Mr. Dupont continued to operate the vehicle negligently as I observed the rear cargo door of the U-Haul was not secured and observed numerous items fly onto the roadway.”

Dupont’s vehicle proceeded down Grafton Street to Memorial Drive, during which Officer Bourette reported that Dupont continued weaving around other vehicles to evade police cruisers. He also straddled the dividing traffic lines, “putting all motorists’ lives at risk,” according to Officer Bourette.

“Mr. Dupont then took an evasive right turn, not using his turn signal onto Hartford Turnpike eastbound, a public way in the Town of Shrewsbury,” Officer Bourette said. “Mr. Dupont continued to accelerate at a speed at which I estimated to be around 50 – 60 miles per hour.”

Officer Bourette said that Dupont then took a left onto South Street and drove to the intersection of South Street and Boston Turnpike eastbound heading toward Westborough.

“In the area of 1000 Boston Turnpike, officers were successfully able to utilize department issued stop sticks,” Officer Bourette said. “The vehicle continued to accelerate into Westborough where the vehicle crashed into a light pole, causing the pole to come down and wires onto my cruiser.”

When police searched the vehicle, officers located a black duffle bag full of shirts with Walmart tags and stickers on the shirts with no receipt.

“The vehicle was occupied by two other females who had been waiting for another male party from Walgreens, who was later arrested for shoplifting charges,” Officer Bourette said. Later adding, “It was then determined Mr. Dupont’s right to operate a motor vehicle was currently suspended and he had a guilty charge [for operating a vehicle with a suspended license] in 2019.”

Dupont was charged with:

1. Fail to Stop
2. Marked Lanes Violation
3. Negligent Operation of a Motor Vehicle
4. Operating Motor Vehicle with License Suspended (Subsequent Offense)
5. Receive Stolen Property Under $1,200
6. Conspiracy to Shoplift
7. Assault with Dangerous Weapon (Motor Vehicle)

Dupont was arraigned in Westborough District Court on November 13, 2024.

Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story was from November, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to get the court documents for the incident. FOIAs are time consuming.

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