WATERBURY, VT -- A Peacham man with prior poaching convictions has been arrested by a Vermont game warden and now faces a variety of charges after ramming the warden's state vehicle.

On the afternoon of August 29, State Game Warden Dennis Amsden attempted to stop a truck on the Groton-Peacham Road in Peacham. The truck, operated by David R. Bradley, 45, of Peacham, allegedly turned into a private driveway and led Amsden on a pursuit through two hay fields. Bradley eventually stopped at the edge of the road, and Amsden stopped behind him. Bradley then put his truck in reverse and rammed the front of the warden's truck.

Bradley got out of his vehicle and approached Warden Amsden. Warden Amsden took Bradley into custody. Troopers Jason Letourneau, Brian Tallmadge and Cpl. Gordon Lambert of the State Police Barracks in St. Johnsbury also responded to back up the warden. Bradley was lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Center on $1,000 bail.

Bradley's truck was seized and a law enforcement dog detected the presence of drugs in the vehicle. The dog, a K-9 named Max, is handled by Senior Trooper Todd Protzman of the Bradford State Police barracks. Warden Amsden applied for and was granted a search warrant for Bradley's vehicle. The search revealed two bags of marijuana, a marijuana pipe and almost $2,500 in cash.

Bradley was arraigned on September 2 at the Caledonia District Court, in St. Johnsbury. Bradley pled not-guilty and was returned to jail on $7,500 bail. Bradley has a long criminal history in Vermont, including many poaching convictions and three possession of marijuana convictions.

Bradley now faces a felony charge of impeding a public officer, failure to stop for a game warden, gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana, disorderly conduct, and attempting to elude a police officer.

The potential jail time for these violations is up to seven years and eight months. The potential fines are over $9,000. A conviction of failing to stop for a game warden carries a three-year revocation of a person's hunting, fishing and trapping privileges.