Waterbury man jailed without bail after threatening others at gunpoint at U.S. 2 home

November 29, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti 

A Waterbury man is in jail without bail this weekend after an incident at a home on U.S. Route 2 on Wednesday where Vermont State Police say he held one person at gunpoint and threatened to kill others. 

The events unfolded at approximately 5:15 p.m. when state police received a report of a man with a gun holding an unarmed man at gunpoint at the home. When they arrived, troopers said they found Jason Russell, 52 of Waterbury, as the individual with the gun and who had threatened to kill the residents. 

A report by Trooper Ryan Riegler explains that the victim “was able to disarm and pin Russell to the ground” before troopers arrived. No one was injured.

Russell was arrested and taken to the Berlin state police barracks where he was issued court citations for multiple charges: aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, leaving the scene of an accident, and criminal driving with a suspended license. 

Russell was lodged at Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans without bail. He is scheduled to be arraigned in Washington Superior Court in Barre at 1 p.m. on Monday, according to police.