Adams man accused of taking car on test drive, trying to run down officer

An Adams man is accused of taking a truck on a test drive and then allegedly trying to run down a North Adams police officer.

Bruce L. Trudeau, 47, is facing many charges.

Trudeau was pulled over on Columbia Street in Adams for driving with a suspended license. The officer told Trudeau to get out of the pickup, but police said he sped off and lead police on a chase from North Adams toward Florida, according to NewsChannel 13’s media partners at The Berkshire Eagle.

While Trudeau was stopped at a traffic light, an officer approached the car with his gun drawn. Trudeau then allegedly started driving forward and the officer feared he would be hit, police said. The officer smashed the driver’s side window of the truck and then Trudeau took off.

Officers later found out that he had taken the truck for a test drive from Alternative Motors earlier in the day.

Trudeau was found just after 3 a.m. near Glen Street in Adams and arrested. 

He pleaded not guilty on Wednesday and was ordered held without bail.