CT man accused of driving 93 mph before fleeing traffic stop on Route 8 arrested on warrant

A man was arrested Wednesday for fleeing a traffic stop on Route 8 in August, when state police alleged that he was driving more than 90 mph, and later crashed the vehicle in Waterbury before taking off on foot.

Todd Pleasants, 34, Newtown, was charged at Waterbury Superior Court in connection with a warrant state police had for his arrest, according to Connecticut State Police . He faces charges of illegal operation of a motor vehicle under suspension, reckless driving, disobeying signal of an officer, criminal impersonation and interfering with an officer/resisting.

According to the warrant affidavit supporting the arrest of Pleasants, state police on Aug. 30 shortly after 1:20 p.m. received the report of an erratic driver going south on Route 8 in Waterbury before a trooper positioned at Exit 37 spotted a motorist in a black sedan. The trooper used a laser speed gun to reportedly clock the driver at 93 mph, the warrant affidavit said.

When the trooper pulled the vehicle over, the driver was allegedly seen making frantic movements indicative of trying to hide something, according to the warrant affidavit. The trooper approached the vehicle and spoke to the driver, who apologized for speeding and said he was on his way to pick up his girlfriend, according to the warrant affidavit.

The driver's license the man had did not appear to be the same person, which the driver alleged was due to the fact that he had lost a lot of weight, state police wrote in the warrant affidavit. The trooper also allegedly spotted two empty nip bottles of rum in the vehicle but noted that the driver did not smell of alcohol. The motorist said the bottles were old and had been previously consumed, the warrant affidavit said.

As the trooper returned to their cruiser to check on the identity of the driver, the vehicle took off quickly on Route 8. The trooper tried to pull the vehicle over again but did not pursue it.

Shortly thereafter, state police learned that a vehicle matching the description of the one in the stop had crashed on Colonial Street in Waterbury, the warrant affidavit said. Witnesses reported seeing a man flee the stop on foot. State police said his description appeared similar to the man who was pulled over.

According to the warrant affidavit, state police were able to use the vehicle's registration information to locate a Facebook profile that had a photo of a man who appeared to be the driver. The trooper used facial recognition software from the photo, which produced a "hit" for Pleasants, the warrant affidavit said.

State police were able to confirm the driver was Pleasants using Department of Motor Vehicle records and found that his license was suspended, according to the warrant affidavit. A trooper also found that he was wanted in connection with a warrant for violation of probation.

During the investigation, state police found that Pleasants was later arrested in connection with the probation warrant. They obtained a warrant in connection with the traffic stop and served it during a court appearance.

Pleasants was arraigned the same day in Waterbury Superior Court on the new charges. He remains held on bonds totaling $80,000 and is due back in court on Dec. 11, according to Department of Correction and Judicial Branch records.