Stratford Councilman Charged With DUI Gets New Court Date

STRATFORD, CT — A Stratford councilman accused of driving more than 100 mph while under the influence did not appear in court Tuesday, despite a scheduled arraignment.

Instead, the court appearance for William F. Perillo was pushed to next month at the request of his attorney.

Perillo, 51, of the 500 block of Woodlawn Avenue, is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, reckless driving at a speed greater than 85 mph, disobeying an officer's signal, and failure to drive in the proper lane, according to Connecticut State Police.

The incident occurred the night of Sept 12 at Exit 53 on Route 15 in Stratford, police said. A state trooper recorded a vehicle driven by Perillo going 117 mph in a 55-mph zone, according to police, who said Perillo refused to stop for a "considerable distance" before eventually slowing and coming to a halt.

Perillo was arrested, but complained of difficulty breathing and was brought to St. Vincent's Medical Center, according to police. While at the hospital, he failed a field sobriety test and was released on a $2,500 bond to the care of hospital staff, police said.

In addition to representing Stratford’s Seventh District on the Town Council, Perillo, a Republican, is a retired 25-year veteran of the Stratford Police Department.

Perillo did not return requests for comment following his arrest, and his attorney, Peter Billings, did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment Tuesday afternoon. Perillo’s court date is now set for Oct. 1.