POLICE SEEK ARMED MAN
ST. ALBANS: A motor vehicle stop that lead to a high-speed police chase early this morning in St. Albans lead to police searching for the driver, 38-year-old Michael Rich of Swanton.
According to St. Albans Police Lieutenant Ben Couture, the man was stopped on Maquam Shore Road for an unspecified reason. When police were speaking with Rich, an officer saw that Rich had his hand on a firearm.
That officer asked Rich to step out of the vehicle so the firearm could be secured for the duration of the stop, according to Lieutenant Couture. That is when Rich put the vehicle back into drive, leading police on a chase onto Giroux Road, at speeds as high as 65 miles per hour.
Police discontinued the chase due to safety concerns but began scouring the area for signs of Rich or his vehicle.
According to Couture, Rich’s vehicle was not legal on the roadway, but further details were not released as of press time.
Officers from St. Albans Police, State Police, Milton Police, Swanton Police and Agents from Border Patrol assisted in the search, which ultimately led to Rich’s vehicle on Lord Road.
Police are still searching for Rich, who is presumed to be armed due to the nature of the traffic stop.
A search of public records shows that Rich served about six months on probation in 2013.
If you have any information that may assist police in locating Rich, you are asked to call 524-2166.
