Get the weekly rundown Sign up to receive our weekly Legal Insider newsletter Email* Submit

Farmington — A Norwich police officer, charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, drove almost twice the speed limit and called police derogatory names during his Jan. 22 arrest, an incident report said.

Police said Chase Chiangi, 32, was driving south on New Britain Avenue when Farmington police Officer Daniel Rodriguez saw him speeding about 10 p.m.

Rodriguez began to follow Chiangi, who was off duty and in his own vehicle, and at one point clocked him going 59 mph in a 30-mph zone, police said.

Police said Chiangi then failed to obey the stop sign at the intersection of New Britain Avenue and Red Oak Hill Road, showing “complete disregard for other motorists.”

Rodriguez pulled Chiangi over and started a conversation in which Chiangi seemed “confused,” police said. Asked how he was doing, for example, Chiangi allegedly replied, “Listen.” Asked how much he had to drink, Chiangi allegedly said, “I know you.”

Police said Chiangi, who fumbled as he reached for his license and registration, eventually said he had had three drinks at a friend’s house.

He agreed to onsite sobriety testing but failed all three exercises, police said. During a visual test, police said, he moved his head rather than following the stimulus with his eyes. During the “walk and turn,” police said, Chiangi took the wrong number of steps and lost his balance. Police said Chiangi also failed the “one-leg stand.”

Police arrested Chiangi and took him to headquarters, where he allegedly refused to take a breath test because of his religion. Police said he later called Rodriguez two derogatory terms, including one that targets those who identify as LGBTQ.

Chiangi at first denied the remarks but later apologized for them, police said.

Charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and failure to obey a stop sign, Chiangi was released on a $2,500 bond when a friend picked him up from the department.

His attorney, Drzislav “Dado” Coric, said Wednesday he hadn’t yet seen the arrest report or footage from booking, but he had seen dashcam footage of the vehicle stop.

Coric said Chiangi, who likely was unfamiliar with the area, wasn’t swerving or hitting parked cars before he was pulled over. He said Chiangi seemed cooperative during the sobriety testing.

Coric said he has asked for more documentation in the case. He said Chiangi doesn’t have any prior drunken driving convictions and should qualify for an alcohol education diversion program, which would allow him to complete a course in exchange for the dismissal of his charges.

State police Trooper Sarah Starkey, accused of driving while intoxicated in November, recently was admitted to the same program. Norwich police have refused to release the report detailing her arrest.

“People make mistakes,” Coric said. “I hope he’ll learn from it and be able to continue his employment.”

Chiangi, who’s on leave pending the outcome of a Norwich police investigation, has been with the force since 2008. He’s next due Feb. 28 in Hartford Superior Court.

l.boyle@theday.com