Warrant: Tolland Man Tried To Ram Manchester Cruiser, Sped From Trooper In Vernon

TOLLAND, CT — A Tolland man wanted for ramming ram a Manchester police cruiser in July and then trying to elude state police on Interstate 84 earlier this month in Vernon in a high-speed chase is in custody on a $200,000 bond, judicial system records show, along with a warrant.

Peter Griffiths, 36, is due for a second appearance in Rockville Superior Court in the matter on Sept. 8, court records show. A warrant was served on Aug. 11, state police said.

He is facing charges that include:

• The improper use of a registration plate
• Failure to carry minimum insurance
• Driving while under suspension
• Reckless driving (greater than 85 mph)
• Engaging police in a pursuit
• Unsafe passing
• Failure to drive in the proper lane
• Interfering with police
• Second-degree reckless endangerment

According to a warrant, on July 30, a state police trooper was notified that Griffiths, driving a 2017 Mercedez-Benz, had fled a scene in Manchester at which he was found passed out in the vehicle and then struck a Manchester police vehicle while fleeing the area after being awakened. The trooper knew Griffiths from previous encounters, according to a warrant.

Just before 6 p.m. on his next shift — Aug. 2 — the trooper encountered the Mercedez heading north on Reservoir Road in Vernon, and. as it passed the state police cruiser, it was clear Griffiths was driving, according to a warrant.

The Mercedes passed several cars waiting in the left-hand I-84 Exit 67 westbound entrance ramp lane and sped onto the highway from the center lane of Reservoir Road and the trooper gave chase, according to a warrant. The Mercedes was swerving in and out of traffic and even using the shoulder to pass other vehicles and, by the time the chase reached Exit 66, speeds were 128 mph, according to a warrant. The Mercedes was pulling away, and disappeared from the trooper's sight after Exit 66., according to a warrant.

Traffic cameras showed the plate on the Mercedes and it came back assigned to a different vehicle according to a warrant.

He was eventually tracked down because of other pending court cases with similar charges, according to a warrant.