UPDATED: Fugitive caught along Winooski River after 2-hour police chase
October 20, 2023 | By Lisa Scagliotti UPDATE 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 20: Additional details from Vermont State Police have been added to this report.
A fugitive from justice wanted on arrest warrants for multiple charges was apprehended on the Winooski River bank in Waterbury around 1 p.m. Friday after leading state police and other law enforcement officers on a roughly two-hour chase.
Vermont Game Warden Lt. Robert Currier, left, and Vermont State Police Trooper John Gildea lead Kyle Pickett to a waiting state police cruiser in the ballfield at Dac Rowe Park at 1 p.m. on Friday. Photo by Gordon Miller
By Friday evening, Vermont State Police shared details about the incident involving Kyle Pickett, 28, of Montpelier, who was wanted in connection with a number of criminal charges in Vermont and New Hampshire, according to police.
The incident began at 10:47 a.m. with the report of a disturbance at Billings Mobil station on Vermont Route 100 in Waterbury where a man was “yelling and screaming,” police said.
A trooper responded and approached the man who immediately fled on foot, according to Trooper Ryan Riegler’s written account. A bystander at the scene identified the man to the officer and said they believed he had a firearm, according to the police report. Police said Pickett did not have a gun when he was taken into custody, but he did have a knife.
“Out of an abundance of caution, due to the nature of this call and the proximity of local schools, the state police notified the Waterbury schools of this unfolding situation,” Riegler said.
The Harwood Unified Union School District took steps to secure Brookside Primary School nearby on Stowe Street. All students and staff went inside, the school was locked and no one was allowed to enter or leave until the police incident ended shortly after 1 p.m., according to school officials. Police noted that there were no threats made to any schools.
The police report lists a number of criminal charges pending against Pickett:
An active warrant for his arrest (with extradition) in the state of New Hampshire for the crimes of receiving stolen property over $1,500, and possession of crack cocaine.
A Vermont arrest warrant for the crimes of resisting arrest and impeding, with bail set by Washington County Criminal Court at $1,000.
Vermont charges of leaving the scene of a crash, and aggravated operation without owner's consent related to a criminal complaint received by the state police in Orange County on Oct. 11.
A criminal court citation from Barre City Police for retail theft.
In recapping the incident, Riegler’s account points out that police had assistance from “numerous tips from the public'' during the pursuit. “The Vermont State Police would like to thank the members of the public that called in sightings and tips related to this incident,” the press release notes.
State police also remind the public of the "see something, say something campaign." Tips about suspicious activity can be reported through vtips.us or by calling 844-848-8477.
Pickett was lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury with bail set at $10,000, according to police. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Washington County Superior Court Criminal Division on Monday, Oct. 23, at 12:30 p.m.
Pursuit through neighborhoods, woods and a park
Blackberry Lane resident Mike Lafayette snapped this photo of the suspect who was trespassing on his property Friday morning.
The chase started on Vermont Route 100 and moved toward Stowe Street to Blush Hill in the Blackberry Lane neighborhood where resident Mike Lafayette came face-to-face with Pickett. “I work from home. I had gone down to Shaw’s for a half hour and came home and saw him in my backyard looking in the windows,” Lafayette said.
Thinking quickly, Lafayette said he went into his garage and grabbed a two-by-four. He confronted the man, who had a knife in a sheath hanging from around his neck. Lafayette managed to take several photos before chasing Pickett from his property toward nearby condos. Lafayette said no damage was done at his home and there had been no break-in.
Pickett crossed through a work area where a crew from Waterbury Public Works is working on a water line project. Public Works Director Bill Woodruff said workers saw the man who fled into the woods toward Interstate 89.
State police had multiple personnel in at the Berlin barracks on Friday morning for a retirement gathering and many took part in the Waterbury operation. Numerous troopers and other officers fanned out from Blush Hill to the Butler and Wallace street neighborhoods off North Main Street and down along U.S. Route 2.
Pickett made his way to Dac Rowe Park across to the bank of the Winooski River. Multiple officers in state police cruisers, unmarked DMV vehicles, and Fish and Wildlife vehicles gathered at the Winooski Street end of the park and at the bridge over the river.
Officers spread out along both sides of the river, surrounding Pickett who was apprehended by Lt. Robert Currier, a Vermont Fish & Wildlife game warden, after a short chase along the water’s edge. Pickett was taken into custody without further incident.
Photo by Gordon Miller
Lt. Charles Winn, commander of the Vermont State Police in Berlin, was on the scene. He said Pickett was wanted on several arrest warrants and details would be released later in the day.
During the chase at about 11:15 a.m., state police notified the Harwood Unified Union School District about the situation and administrators at Brookside Primary School on Stowe Street were instructed to “secure the perimeter.” Parents were informed of the situation via email from the school district.
“Students were brought inside and we ensured that all exterior windows and doors were closed and locked,” said Superintendent Mike Leichliter. No one was allowed to enter or exit the building during that time. School activities continued as normal until 1:15 p.m. when police gave school officials an “all clear” update, Leichliter said in an email afterward.