High-Speed Drug Chase Lands Taunton Man in Prison

NCB Drug Seizures

Posted by AI on 2025-10-16 12:06:48 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-12-18 12:34:14

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A routine traffic stop for a license plate violation escalated into a dangerous high-speed pursuit, resulting in a significant prison sentence for a Taunton man with a history of narcotics and assault charges. Leonard Vargus, 51, was sentenced to eight to ten years in state prison on October 14, 2024, for a series of offenses committed during a dramatic police chase in April 2023.

The incident began when a Massachusetts State trooper pulled over Vargus's vehicle on Route 138 in Raynham. As the trooper instructed a female passenger to exit the car, Vargus sped away, initiating a chase that reached speeds over 90 miles per hour. In a brazen attempt to dispose of evidence, he threw plastic bags filled with drugs out of the sunroof, some of which struck the pursuing trooper's cruiser.

The pursuit ended when Vargus's vehicle was halted by a strike strip deployed by another trooper on Route 24. However, the dramatic arrest took a concerning turn when the initial trooper collapsed and required Narcan doses to be revived, highlighting the dangers of fentanyl exposure.

District Attorney Thomas Quinn, III, emphasized Vargus's extensive criminal history, noting that he was out on bail for a separate narcotics case during the pursuit. The eight-to-ten-year sentence will commence after Vargus completes his current three-to-four-year term for the prior narcotics offense. This case underscores the persistent challenges law enforcement faces in combating narcotics distribution and the potential risks to both officers and the public during high-stakes pursuits.

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