Motorist Accused Of Nearly Hitting Cops At Southington HS Graduation: Police

SOUTHINGTON, CT — A Bristol man has been charged with several offenses after police said he drove erratically during a traffic jam after Southington High School's graduation Thursday.

According to the Southington Police Department, Stephen Buckler, 43, of Bristol, was charged Thursday, June 12, with risk of injury to a child, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, and disobeying the signal of an officer.

The suspect was taken into custody on $50,000 bond and was scheduled to appear in New Britain Superior Court on Friday, June 13.

Police said the incident started at about 8:10 p.m. Thursday after SHS' commencement ceremonies ended at 720 Pleasant St.

Traffic was stopped as police conducted traffic control near the school while vehicles exited the school grounds.

Police said, while eastbound vehicular traffic on Flanders Street was momentarily stopped, officers saw a white Chevy Trailblazer travel over the grassy median within the high school parking lot, cross the sidewalk, and enter Flanders Street.

After passing a row of stopped vehicles, the vehicle continued traveling towards officers as police ordered him to stop, police said.

According to the SPD, the vehicle increased speed as it headed toward officers and "abruptly turned right on Annelise Avenue."

Police said the Chevy Blazer then drove over a curb, hit a fence, and caused other private property damage before fleeing the area northbound.

"Officers in the roadway were forced to jump out of the way of the moving vehicle as its operator acted in a reckless manner, disobeying all commands," wrote the SPD in a release Friday.

Police posted dashcam footage of the incident on their Facebook page.

Police then relayed information about the incident to other units, and the Chevy Blazer was stopped on Queen Street.

"It was eventually learned the vehicle was occupied by two other adults, a teenager, as well as a minor s6-year old child," police wrote.

The operator was taken into custody without further incident, charged accordingly, and held on bond, the SPD said.

For more information on the case and to see footage of the incident, click on this link.