A 26-year-old Groton man accused of impersonating a police officer by using unauthorized lights and sirens while driving at high speeds on area roads was released Wednesday on promise to appear in court and ordered to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations.

Carl E. Adams, who has been staying at the Super 8 motel on Route 12 for about two weeks, was charged Tuesday with impersonating a police officer, risk of injury to a minor, first-degree reckless endangerment, reckless driving, use of unauthorized colored lights, illegal use of a siren, failure to drive in the proper lane and improper passing.

Police say Adams admitted his 2-year-old daughter was in the car with him, though Adams disputed it during his arraignment in New London Superior Court.

Groton Town Police began investigating Monday morning after patrolman Christopher D. Hoffman, while stopped at a red light at the intersection of Newtown Road and Fort Hill Road, saw a green Honda CRV traveling at high speed with blue and red flashing lights in the front and rear, according to an arrest warrant affidavit.

The CRV driver crossed over the double yellow line to pass cars, traveling in such a reckless manner that other cars had to take evasive action to avoid a collision, according to the warrant.

Hoffman activated his own lights and siren, turned around and drove all the way to the intersection of the Gold Star Highway, but was unable to catch up with the driver.

Later, he obtained a video from Transportation of America bus company showing the CRV crossing over the double yellow line into oncoming traffic on Fort Hill Road to pass a school bus.

Officers on the night shift located Adams, the registered owner of the SUV, at the Super 8.

During an interview with Hoffman on Tuesday morning at police headquarters, Adams said his volunteer position with the Salvation Army in New London allows him to have a special permit for lights and siren and that he was rushing to a structure fire in Mystic on Monday morning.  

Told at the fire scene he was not needed, Adams said he drove back through downtown Groton.

He said he decided he should rush back to the office and activated his lights and siren and drove at speeds up to 85 mph.

The police learned Adams was not authorized through the Salvation Army to use lights and a siren and confirmed there were no fires in the Mystic area during the time in question, according to the affidavit.

Adams admitted he likes driving with lights and sirens on and had done it on four other occasions in Groton, once while driving to pick up dinner at a restaurant.

He said he had used the lights and siren in Norwich, Ledyard, Waterford, on various highways in Connecticut and in other states.

He said he took the lights and siren off his car after learning police were looking for him.

Adams has no history of drug or alcohol abuse or mental health problems, according to a bail commissioner.

He has a conviction for sixth-degree larceny and third-degree criminal mischief, both misdemeanors, from 2014.

His mother, Marie Adams, said after the arraignment that her son might need a psychological exam but is not violent.

Judge Omar A. Williams agreed to release Adams into community supervision based on his limited criminal history, his "apparent need for services" and the nature of the charges.

Williams warned Adams to comply with the conditions of his release or he would be brought back to court "very quickly."

Adams' next court date is Nov. 30.

k.florin@theday.com

Twitter: @KFLORIN