Posted on 08/03/2012 5:37:26 AM PDT by cotton1706
Working in a stout former bank building with windows closed and air conditioners humming, Orleans County, Vt., sheriff's deputies didn't know what was happening in their parking lot until a neighbor called 911. A man on a big farm tractor, angry about his recent arrest for resisting arrest and marijuana possession, was rolling across their vehicles -- five marked cruisers, one unmarked car and a transport van. By the time they ran outside, the tractor was down the driveway and out onto the road.
Thursday afternoon's incident ended when city police in Newport, the county seat of the northern Vermont county, caught up with Roger Pion, 34, a short distance away.
No one was injured. At least two deputies had gone inside a few moments before after washing their vehicles, officials said.
"Nobody was hurt. That's the thing everybody's got to cherish," said Sheriff Kirk Martin.
Vermont State Police said in a statement that Pion would face seven counts of felony unlawful mischief, one count of misdemeanor unlawful mischief, one count aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, one count of gross negligent operation, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident.
Pion was being held at the Northern State Correctional Center in Newport on $15,000 bail.
Sheriffs said they did not know if Pion had a lawyer. A phone number for him could not be located.
Martin estimated damage to the vehicles at more than $300,000; state police put it at more than $250,000.
Not only were their roofs and hoods caved in, but "the radios are ruined, the radar detectors, the cages in the cars ... We're going to have to get the jaws of life up here to pry the trunks open and see about the rifles and shotguns," Martin said.
(Excerpt) Read more at nola.com ...
Why do police cars have radar detectors?
Why do peace officers drive around with huge caches of assault weapons in their trunks?
Why do peace officers drive around with huge caches of high powered assault weapons in their trunks?
Yeah... I'm getting fed up with that attitude too... Any idea on where I can get a good deal on a really big tractor?
Why, to subjugate the people of course!
Arrested for pot possession. Title should read, “Another left-wing hippie goes postal.” No doubt he’s been smoking a little to much of what he’s been farming.
What is "it" that people have had?
We need bigger tractors.
“and one count of leaving the scene of an accident.”
Don’t see how this count will hold... Where was the accident?
This man did an immense public service.
It's kind of difficult to argue that any "accident" occurred. Some vandalism occurred, but it was no accident.
Stupid cops don’t seem to know the difference between an accident and an “on purpose”.
If it were up to me this guy would have to come up with $300,000 to cover damage to taxpayers’ property ... his farm might cover at least the down payment.
If these cars had those seizure inducing, drum solo light shows on them, then this tractor driver did a huge public service.
I’d want more information before I’d be willing to state that as fact. People have been busted over feral “ditchweed” hemp they didn’t even know was there. Tight budgets and the possibility of getting the proceeds from an asset forfeiture can make you a juicy target.
Your dog is hard to kill.
Sounds like something Burt Reynolds would do to Jackie Gleason.
Wonder if he was yelling “Yeehaw” the whole time. (or whatever the New England equivalent is)
I wonder if he smoked a fatty and was TOTALLY baked when he drove through the parking lot?
Since 99% of all government in this country has gone to the dark side and are the enemies of the people, I have to side with the farmer.
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