St. Johnsbury Barracks / Aggravated assault and other charges

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

CASE#: 24A4005597

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Riley Fenoff              

STATION: St. Johnsbury Barracks          

CONTACT#: 802-748-3111

 

DATE/TIME: About 8:15 a.m. Saturday, July 20, 2024

INCIDENT LOCATION: Vermont Agency of Transportation and Vermont State Police building, 1068 U.S. Route 5, St. Johnsbury, VT

VIOLATIONS:

• Aggravated assault.

• Disorderly conduct.

• Unlawful mischief.

• Leaving the scene of an accident.

• Resisting arrest.

 

ACCUSED: Jeffrey Hale

AGE: 60

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Lunenburg, VT

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

A Lunenburg man is facing multiple charges after rammed his SUV into a Vermont Agency of Transportation building in St. Johnsbury, then stole a steel tamper and used the tool to cause further damage and attempt to assault nearby construction workers.

 

The incident began at about 8:15 a.m. Saturday when 60-year-old Jeffrey Hale intentionally crashed his Ford Explorer into the front wall of the AOT office building at 1068 U.S. Route 5. The crash caused substantial structural damage to the building, which abuts the Vermont State Police barracks. Hale then took the long-handled tamper from a nearby construction trailer and damaged windows on the VSP barracks and an AOT pickup truck, and smashed a portable construction light at a nearby job site on U.S. Route 5. As Hale turned his attention to workers on the job site, one of the victims pepper-sprayed Hale, and an Orleans County Sheriff’s Department deputy working a detail at the site tackled Hale and detained him.

 

Evidence obtained by troopers to this point in the investigation indicates this was a random attack. No injuries were reported.

 

Work crews from the state of Vermont responded to board up damaged windows at the AOT building and VSP barracks, with additional work necessary next week.

 

Hale was taken into custody by the Vermont State Police. Troopers are working on this ongoing investigation in consultation with the Caledonia County State’s Attorney’s Office. Preliminary charges Hale is expected to face include aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, unlawful mischief, leaving the scene of an accident, and resisting arrest. Additional charges are possible. Details regarding Hale’s bail and custody status, along with the timing of his initial court appearance, remain pending at this time.

 

- 30 -