White River Junction
Mason Thompson also pleaded not guilty to possessing LSD at his arraignment in Windsor Superior Court in White River Junction. Thompson, who doesn’t have a prior criminal record, was released on conditions.
Meanwhile, officers Eric Clifford and Fred Peyton have since been released from Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center; both suffered concussions and abrasions in the stop on Route 4 near Center of Town Road, police said.
A third officer, Sgt. Constance Kelley, also was struck in the head, according to a police affidavit filed in court.
Police said Clifford stopped a Subaru Forester driven by Thompson around 10:50 p.m. on Thursday for traveling 63 mph in a 45 mph zone. When Clifford approached Thompson’s vehicle, he said he smelled “fresh marijuana emanating from within,” according to the affidavit. When asked about the odor, Thompson allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana before operating the vehicle and having a small amount on him.
Thompson consented to have Clifford search his vehicle. At that time, Peyton and Kelley had arrived on scene to help, the affidavit said.
During the search, the officers located 3.6 grams of loose marijuana, two plastic bags containing marijuana seeds and stems, two partially smoked marijuana cigarettes and three LSD blotters, according to the affidavit.
Clifford performed a field sobriety test on Thompson outside of the vehicle, and according to Clifford, Thompson tested positive for recent consumption of marijuana, the affidavit states.
Clifford told Thompson he would be placed under arrest for suspicion of DUI — drugs, and he resisted.
“A struggle then ensued as officer Clifford, officer Peyton and Sgt. Kelley attempted to gain control over Mr. Thompson,” the affidavit states. “During this struggle, Sgt. Kelley was struck in the right temple area of her head, causing pain on a level of 4 out of 10.”
Peyton then physically forced Thompson to the ground while Clifford assisted. Both Clifford and Peyton struck their heads on the edge of the concrete roadway, according to the affidavit. Clifford sustained a severe concussion and abrasion and lost consciousness, authorities said.
Thompson also suffered an abrasion to his head.
Peyton and Kelley eventually were able to handcuff Thompson, who was transported by Vermont State Police to the Hartford Police Department for a “drug recognition expert evaluation.” That evaluation didn’t happen though, because all of the on-call experts who were called or paged didn’t respond, the affidavit states.
The incident was recorded by police body cameras, according to the affidavit.
Thompson submitted to a voluntary blood draw.
Although Thompson doesn’t have a prior criminal record, he was stopped by police last November, and he admitted to smoking marijuana and drinking alcohol prior to driving, the affidavit states. He was ticketed at the time.
Hartford Police Maj. Brad Vail said Thompson was also issued a civil ticket for marijuana possession in connection with Thursday’s incident, but that the quantity did not rise to a criminal charge.
Vail also said the injured officers “will be out until medically cleared to return, but we are very grateful that they are recovering.”
Thompson’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 6 in the White River Junction courthouse.
Jordan Cuddemi can be reached at jcuddemi@vnews.com or 603-727-3248.