Truck Driver with a Long History of Crimes Faces Charges for Fatal Crash in Waltham

WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) — A truck driver who fatally struck a Massachusetts police officer and a utility employee, pulled a knife on another officer, stole his cruiser and crashed has an “unbroken chain” of crimes going back to 1996, a prosecutor revealed at a detention hearing on Thursday.

A judge has ordered that Peter Simon, a 54-year-old resident of Woodsville, New Hampshire, be held without bail as he awaits trial on charges stemming from the devastating crashes that occurred on December 6 in Waltham. The tragic incident claimed the lives of Waltham police Officer Paul Tracey, 58, and a 36-year-old National Grid worker identified as Roderick Jackson from Cambridge.

Simon’s next court hearing is scheduled for February 29. His lawyer, Lynda Dantas, acknowledged that some charges on his record were dismissed and highlighted the existence of “significant mental health issues here,” without providing specific details.

Dantas argued that Simon has access to a “complete mental health network” in New Hampshire and currently resides in an apartment. In light of this, she requested home confinement with an electronic monitoring device, asking that he only be allowed to leave for medical treatment.

Prosecutors, however, pointed out that Simon has a history of evading New Hampshire authorities. They cited a 2009 incident where he led police on a high-speed chase through multiple parking lots in Keene, reaching speeds of approximately 100 mph before crashing into a passenger bus. The crash caused the truck to catch fire, scattering debris and resulting in Simon’s arrest at a nearby restaurant.

In 2016, Simon was also involved in another police pursuit. Responding to a call about an assault at a Franklin home, police chased a van driven by Simon, which eventually crashed into a fence.

Simon now faces multiple charges, including two counts of manslaughter, armed robbery, assault, and leaving the scene of an accident. During his court appearance on Thursday, he was arraigned on several additional charges, such as negligent operation of a motor vehicle and failing to stop for a police officer. Not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf for all charges.

Simon’s criminal history extends beyond Massachusetts. In New Hampshire, he has served time in both the state corrections department secure psychiatric unit and state prison for various offenses, including reckless conduct and assault.