State police seek driver who fled Stowe Street traffic stop

October 2, 2024  |  By Lisa Scagliotti

A Vermont State Police photo shows the vehicle that fled a traffic stop on Stowe Street late Monday night.

Vermont State Police are asking for the public’s help in locating a driver of a vehicle who took off during a traffic stop on Stowe Street, causing damage to a yard in the process. 

The incident happened late Monday. At 11:25 p.m., a trooper attempted to stop a silver 2005 Subaru Impreza with the Vermont plate KFB597. Trooper David Lambert said the Stowe Street stop was for a motor vehicle violation where the license plate did not match the vehicle. 

The driver failed to stop and took off at high speed towards Vermont Route 100, Lambert said. As the vehicle drove off, it went off the road along Stowe Street  “causing property damage to a resident’s yard,” the report states. 

The vehicle then continued on its way, turning onto Lincoln Street, Lambert added, explaining that “per State Police policy, troopers didn’t pursue the vehicle” because the situation did not warrant a chase. State police policy, Lambert said, “allows pursuits in very few situations where someone is fleeing after committing a violent felony.” 

The vehicle is registered to a Michael Bernier, age 40 from East Montpelier, police said. They are working to identify the driver at the time of this incident and said Bernier is a suspect. Lambert said the driver was a man. Police shared a photo of the vehicle with the press release which notes that the pertinent charges in this case would be Eluding Police and Gross Negligent Operation. 

Anyone with information regarding the vehicle involved or Bernier’s whereabouts is asked to contact Trooper Lambert at the Berlin state police barracks at 802-229-9191.