State Police Dog 'Apprehends' HOV Swale Speeder After Testy Highway Traffic Stop

MANCHESTER, CT — A drunken driver speeding through the buffer between the HOV lane and regular travel lanes of Interstate 84 wound up meeting a police dog up-close during an uncooperative traffic stop, state police said.

The situation unraveled on July 8, when Trooper Kyle Kaelberer was stationed on Interstate 84 near the Manchester-Vernon line and a Red GMC Sierra pickup truck went past him at a "reckless speed" in the swale between the high-occupancy vehicle lane and and the left lane of travel heading into Manchester, according to an arrest report.

The truck was kicking up all sorts of "rocks and debris" that typically accumulate in the channel, according to an arrest report.

The truck then shot across four lanes to the I-291 westbound on-ramp and had a "misused" plate affixed to its bumper, according to an arrest report.

When Kaelberer caught up to him, the driver tried to accelerate and get away several times, but was eventually pulled over between exits 4 and 5 on I-291, according to an arrest report.

The driver was uncooperative and tussled with Kaelberer as he was being removed from the truck, according to an arrest report.

Kaelberer had left his canine partner, Viper, in their cruiser, but as the driver became more aggressive, Kaelberer activated the "door pop" and out came Viper, according to an arrest report. Viper then made quick work of the situation and "apprehended" the driver, according to an arrest report.

The driver, identified as 25-year-old Benjamin Figeira, of Danielson, was charged with the improper use of a plate, reckless driving (85 mph-plus), disobeying the signal of an officer, driving under the influence, a lane violation and interfering with police, according to an arrest report.

He posted a $15,000 bond and is slated for a July 22 court appearance, records show.