RUTLAND — On Thursday, June 5, 2025, at approximately 2:23 p.m., Rutland Police Detective Cassandra DeSousa responded to a report of a single-vehicle rollover crash near 200 Maple Avenue.
(The account and quotations in this article were sourced from the printed Personnel Narratives of Detective Cassandra DeSousa, Officer Brian Fleury, and Sergeant Troy Chauvin, and do not reflect any political perspective or personal opinion of News Link Live, which is strictly a business entity.)
“Prior to my arrival, dispatch advised that the occupant had self-extricated from the vehicle,” Detective DeSousa said.
When Detective DeSousa arrived on scene, she observed a red 2006 Pontiac Vibe, with Vermont license plates, overturned on its roof in the woods along the northbound side of Maple Avenue.
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“The operator, Ms. Nadia Colon, whom I recognized from previous interactions, was outside the vehicle sitting on the ground speaking with Captain Firefighter/EMT Justin Bassett,” Detective DeSousa said. “Ms. Colon had severe swelling to her forehead along with facial lacerations that were actively bleeding.”
According to police, Nadia Colon, 27, is a resident of Memorial Drive in Chicopee, MA.
“Ms. Colon was argumentative and said, ‘Just f*ck*ng arrest me…you’re going to arrest me anyways,'” Detective DeSousa said. “Ms. Colon’s eyes were glassy, bloodshot, she had slurred speech, and there was a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her breath as she spoke. While speaking with Ms. Colon, I noticed her pupils to be constricted
or, ‘pinpoint.’ Based on my training and experience, this is a common physical indicator associated with opioid use, including drugs such as heroin, fentanyl, morphine, or oxycodone.”
Detective DeSousa said that Colon admitted to drinking alcohol earlier in the day before the crash.
“Based on my observations of Ms. Colon and our conversation, I believed Ms. Colon was under the influence of alcohol in excess of the legal limit of 0.08%,” Detective Colon said.
Out-of-state registration draws multi-agency attention
Detective DeSousa said the following information is known about Colon’s Vermont registration:
- “The vehicle is actively registered until September 30, 2025 in Vermont under her name.”
- “The address associated with the registration is P.O. Box 4[XX], Rutland, MA 01543.”
- “The vehicle has been queried by various departments, including but not limited to, Springfield, Chicopee, Massachusetts State Police, and Rutland dating back to March of this year.”
- “There is extensive in-house history with Ms. Nadia Colon where she has been observed operating the above vehicle with Vermont registration in excess of the legally permitted 30 day period.”
- “Ms. Colon’s husband stated they lived in an apartment in the Springfield area.”
DeSousa added, “Ms. Colon has resided in Massachusetts and has been observed operating her Vermont registered vehicle in excess of the legally allotted 30 day period.”
Intoxication suspected at scene; citations issued after hospital transport
At around 5:07 p.m., Sergeant Troy Chauvin arrived on scene, where he observed the vehicle on its roof and Detective DeSousa speaking to Colon along with members of the Rutland Fire Department.
Detective DeSousa approached Sergeant Chauvin and told him that she believed Colon was intoxicated.
“I then made contact with Nadia, who was very argumentative and uncooperative. As I was speaking with her, I could smell an odor of an alcoholic beverage emanating from her,” Sgt. Chauvin said. “I then requested Nadia to conduct a field sobriety test, which she declined. I then informed Nadia that I had developed probable cause to believe that she was intoxicated and was operating a motor vehicle under the influence of an alcoholic beverage. Nadia then stated that she wished to go to the hospital for an evaluation.”
Colon was then taken to the hospital by the Rutland Fire Department’s personnel for a medical evaluation.
“Nadia’s vehicle was then towed from the roadway and was taken to Bill’s Garage where it was later inventoried,” Sgt. Chauvin said.
Sgt. Chauvin said that he issued Colon a criminal complaint citation for the following:
- OUI Liquor
- Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
- Refuse to register motor vehicle in Massachusetts after 30 days (Vermont)
DNA refusal and ongoing investigation
Sgt. Chauvin then called Officer Brian Fleury and informed him Colon was in the hospital and asked him to deliver her the citation.
“Sgt. Chauvin requested that I proceed to the UMass University Campus ER [Emergency Room] where Ms. Colon is being treated, to give her a copy in hand,” Officer Fleury said. “Prior to my departure, I secured a DNA collection kit issued from the State Police Crime Lab (which I am certified to obtain).”
Officer Fleury stated that, pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 22E, Section 3, Colon has failed to provide her DNA in connection with a separate crime.
“Upon my arrival at the hospital, I located Ms. Colon in room South 4 of the emergency department. Ms. Colon’s demeanor became agitated when she saw me, she expressed this by raising her voice towards me,” Officer Fleury said. “I explained why I was here and that I had the tow release form for her and was delivering the citation.”
Officer Fleury stated that, before continuing to speak with Colon, he read her the Miranda warnings, and she indicated that she understood them.
“I began talking with Ms. Colon who advised me that with recent turmoil in her life, she had broken her six years of sobriety,” Officer Fleury said. “Ms. Colon stated that she did drink, but stated that was a few hours before the crash.”
Officer Fleury asked Colon what she had to drink and she said one “nip.”
Officer Fleury stated that Colon said she had not slept in the past five days. He added that, according to Colon, she had just left a funeral in Paxton prior to the accident and was heading back to Maple Avenue in Rutland.
“During the course of my conversation with Ms. Colon, I advised her about the DNA situation,” Officer Fleury said. “She stated that the state has been trying to obtain that from her for years and that since she is not a convicted felon she does not have to provide it. I advised her that this was not true and that a refusal would result in an additional charge. Ms. Colon again denied providing me with a DNA sample. I cleared the hospital without issue. This incident was captured on a body worn camera.”
According to Detective DeSousa, Massachusetts State Police later confirmed that Colon’s prior flag for a DNA submission violation had been removed due to her charges being continued without a finding.
“Ms. Colon’s charges did not qualify for a DNA submission,” Detective DeSousa said. “A search warrant for medical records and blood collected at the hospital pertaining to Ms. Colon’s case will be completed by the detective bureau. This investigation is still ongoing.”
News Link Live reached out to the Rutland Police Department asking what incident the DNA submission flag was for and hasn’t heard back yet. However, a search of the internet revealed that in October 2024, Colon was repeatedly quoted throughout a Western Mass News (WGGB/WSHM) story about a four week old boy found abandoned on the back porch of the apartment building where she was living at the time. Colon told reporters she couldn’t fathom doing something like that, adding that she has four kids of her own, including a five-week old son.
“It just really hurt,” Colon told WGGB/WSHM. “I have four kids, two of them are special needs, and I have a five-week-old son at home, so it made me really sad because I couldn’t fathom doing something like that.”
Colon’s arraignment for the charges resulting from the June 5 crash was scheduled for June 6, 2025, in East Brookfield District Court.
Disclaimer: If you are wondering why the incident in this story took place in June, that’s because I had to file FOIA request(s) to obtain the court documents. FOIAs are time-consuming.
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