UPDATED: Man charged with impersonating police officer now faces almost 40 charges

Old Saybrook — David Walshe impersonated a police officer and used a stolen credit card to buy a spa treatment Monday evening, Old Saybrook police said Tuesday.

Walshe, 41, of the Greene section of Coventry, R.I., had multiple aliases when arrested, police said. He’s charged with impersonating a police officer, sixth-degree attempted larceny, interfering with a police officer, escape from custody, two counts of possession of stolen credit cards, possession of a stolen license, possession of goods purchased with a stolen credit card, third-degree identity theft and possession of burglary tools.

Walshe was first spotted Monday at a CVS Pharmacy, 519 Boston Post Road, where police said he displayed a police badge and police identification and used a stolen credit card to make a purchase.

Walshe was arrested later Monday night after he went to Saybrook Point Inn & Spa, 2 Bridge St., and used a gift card for a spa treatment that he’d bought with a stolen credit card, police said.

A massage therapist recognized the man as someone who’d purchased items with a stolen credit card in the past and called police.

Walshe struggled with officers when they arrived and fled on foot. Police gave chase through the first floor and basement levels of the hotel, police said. Two officers sustained minor injuries during the struggle and foot chase, police said.

While in custody, police connected Walshe with additional crimes committed in Old Saybrook and surrounding communities during the previous week. Walshe also faces six counts of criminal impersonation; 10 counts of identity theft; two counts of first-degree forgery; fourth-degree forgery; third-degree forgery; five counts of fraudulent use of a credit card and two counts of receipt of goods or services purchased with a stolen credit card.

Walshe is being held on $175,000 bond and will appear in Middlesex Superior Court Wednesday.

Walshe has an extensive criminal record in both Connecticut and Rhode Island, with arrests and convictions on larceny, counterfeit and forgery charges, among others, over the last 15 years. He was arrested by Groton Town police in October 2008 on charges of first-degree larceny, criminal impersonation, second-degree forgery and second-degree false statement.