By VDC staff
A Franklin County sheriff’s deputy was critically injured Friday night after being dragged by a pickup truck during a traffic stop, and the driver now faces a charge of attempted second-degree murder, according to Vermont State Police.
The incident occurred at about 8 p.m. April 24 on Main Street (Route 104) near 1408 Main St. in Fairfax. Police said the deputy had stopped a silver Chevrolet Silverado for speeding and identified the operator as Alexander T. Seagroves, 32, of Fletcher.
[Editor’s note: an earlier version of this story prematurely identified the suspect with a Chittenden County man, also named Seagroves, reported on in 2024 by Mike Donoghue. We regret the editorial error.]
According to investigators, the deputy returned to his cruiser during the stop when the pickup began to move. The deputy approached the vehicle and ordered Seagroves to shut off the engine and exit, but Seagroves instead drove south on Route 104 while the deputy was holding onto the truck’s door, police said.
The deputy was dragged before Seagroves braked, throwing him from the vehicle, and then fled the scene.
A bystander called 911, and Fairfax Rescue transported the deputy to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington. Authorities said the deputy suffered serious bodily injuries and was listed in critical condition early Saturday.
State police later located Seagroves at a residence on Hemlock Road in Fletcher, where a vehicle matching the description of the truck involved was found. He was taken into custody and transported to the St. Albans barracks for processing.
Seagroves was charged with attempted second-degree murder, aggravated assault, gross negligent operation, eluding a police officer, driving with a suspended license, and an outstanding warrant. He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. Monday, April 27, in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, in St. Albans.
The name of the injured deputy is being withheld pending notification of relatives.
The investigation remains active and involves multiple units of the Vermont State Police, along with assistance from the St. Albans Police Department and the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife.