DANIELSON - Police said a 34-year-old Thompson man not only identified himself as a state trooper, but tried to pass himself off as the commander of a local state police barracks.

Adam Viens, of 18 Wrightson Drive, was charged Monday with impersonating a police officer after police said he could “take care” of an impaired driving arrest for a defendant, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

State police said 47-year-old Keith Barnes contacted troopers in August and said Viens, through text messages, identified himself at Lt. John Aiello, commander of Troop D in Danielson.

Barnes said he was charged in June with driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol and bumped into Viens after an appearance at Danielson Superior Court.

“Adam started to tell me that he had been a state trooper, but retired on disability,” Barnes told police, according to the warrant. “Adam told me, ‘Don’t worry about it, we’ll take care of the situation.’ ”

Barnes said he saw Viens again a week later at a local restaurant and said he was friends with Aiello. The next day, Barnes said Viens introduced him to an older man who he said was a retired state police commissioner named “John.”

Barnes said Viens texted him a phone number listed on a contact list as “John A.,” and promised to have paperwork ready for Barnes to fill out purportedly to settle his case, the warrant states.

When Barnes later called Viens’ cell phone, he noticed it was the same exchange as the “John A.” number.

“Adam, still acting as John, told me he could not talk and hung up,” Barnes told police. “Adam has never directly asked for anything. At one point Adam said he lost his wallet in Boston and asked if I could hook him up with beers and shrimp cocktail.”

When interviewed on Aug. 15 by state police, Viens admitted telling Barnes he knew “people at Troop D” who might be able to help with Barnes' court case, according to the warrant.

Viens said he pretended to be Aiello in several text messages to Barnes.

“I don’t know what my intentions were going to be other than just helping (Barnes) out,” Viens told police. “I never asked for money ... never planned on extorting him for money. I truly apologize for my actions.”

State police said Viens has a long criminal record with six arrests in the last 13 years with charges ranging from first-degree robbery and assault to criminal impersonation and failure to appear.

Police said on May 21, Viens told troopers responding to an assault investigation that he was a retired state trooper who’d worked for drug task forces in Hartford and New York, according to the warrant.

After Viens was charged in the case he told responding troopers he was good friends with the duty supervisor and he would be released from police custody on a promise to appear.

“Which was determined to be false, given the fact that he was held on a $2,500 cash surety bond,” state police said, according to the warrant.

Viens is due next in Danielson Superior Court on Sept. 20.