By KATY SAVAGE
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BELLOWS FALLS, Vt. — A man accused of stealing a car in Bellows Falls before leading police on a 40-mile speed chase last Wednesday is now facing charges in two states, following his arrest in Massachusetts.
Bret Cappola, 36, of East Wareham, Massachusetts was driving a stolen black 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee when police started chasing him around 6 p.m., after he was swerving over the road on Interstate 91 in Putney, said Vermont State Police Sgt. Ryan Wood.
Police believed Cappola was impaired and later learned the vehicle was stolen.
Wood attempted to stop Cappola but he fled, exceeding 105 miles per hour at some points. Cappola also tried to pass vehicles in the breakdown lane.
Wood estimated three or four police cruisers followed Cappola and tried to get him to pull over.
Police followed him on Interstate 91 where the speed limit is 65 mph and Route 5, where the speed varies between 30 and 50 mph. Cappola was allegedly going double the speed limit through most of the chase, said Wood.
Massachusetts State Police took over the chase when Cappola crossed the border to Massachusetts. He kept going despite the use of spikes to slow him down.
When Cappola arrived in Deerfield, Massachusetts, he moved to the passenger seat of the Jeep he was driving and jumped from the vehicle, landing on his side along the interstate while the vehicle was still going 20 mph. He got up and ran into the woods where police arrested him moments later with the help of a Vermont State Police K-9.
Meanwhile, the car Cappola was driving kept moving and hit a police cruiser, causing damages.
Cappola initially gave a false name to police, they said. He was taken into custody at the Franklin County House of Corrections in Greenfield, Massachusetts for $5,000 bail. He was charged in Vermont with attempting to elude, excessive speed, grossly negligent operation. Bellows Falls Police also charged Cappola with grand larceny and aggravated operating without the owner’s consent. The Bernardston Police Department, Massachusetts State Police, Deerfield Police Department and The Bellows Falls Police Department assisted. Cappola faces charges in Vermont and Massachusetts.
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