by Guy Page
For at least the second time in three months, a suspected Vermont heroin dealer has been arrested after a lengthy, multi-jurisdictional police investigation. But, instead of being sent to jail pending a court appearance, the suspected dealer has been given a written citation to appear in court more than two months from the date of arrest.
On July 1, in Grand Isle, the Vermont Drug Task Force, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department, South Burlington Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Drug Enforcement Administration conducted a search warrant at the residence of and arrested Michael Larrow, 63, of Grand Isle on suspicion of sale of heroin and fentanyl trafficking.
The arrest of Larrow was the conclusion of a Vermont Drug Task Force investigation that began in October 2020 in cooperation with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, Grand Isle Sheriff’s Department, South Burlington Police Department, Homeland Security Investigations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Grand Isle County State’s Attorney’s Office. The investigation revealed that on multiple occasions Larrow sold heroin.
Larrow was issued a citation to appear in the Criminal Division of the Vermont Superior Court in North Hero on 09/16/2021 at 08:30AM to answer to the aforementioned charges.
At least Larrow wasn’t on supervised release from prison when he allegedly dealt drugs and then was cited to appear in court. – unlike Warren Poole of Enosburg.
On April 27, in Enosburg, the Vermont Drug Task Force, Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and Homeland Security Investigations arrested Poole, 41, on suspicion of sale of methamphetamine and sale of heroin, state police say.
The arrest of Poole also was the conclusion of a Vermont Drug Task Force investigation, which began in July 2020 in cooperation with the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and South Burlington Police Department. The investigation revealed that Poole sold methamphetamine and heroin. At the time of the investigation and at the time of his arrest, Poole was under supervision by the Vermont Department of Corrections as a parolee.
Poole was issued a citation to appear in the Criminal Division of the Vermont Superior Court in Saint Albans on July 27.
At a press conference following the Poole arrest, Public Safety Commissioner Michael Schirling said legislation and policies have reduced law enforcement options for holding suspects in jail. A ‘bail reform’ law in New York State is being blamed by prosecutors there for an increase in opioid abuse, as users and dealers if arrested are merely returned to the streets. Similar legislation is under consideration in Vermont.