Deputy sheriff continues to recover from injuries
Vermont News First
NORTH HERO — A Grand Isle man, who police say reportedly used his car to run down a deputy sheriff and fled the scene on Wednesday night, pleaded not guilty to attempted first-degree murder on Thursday.
Kevin J. Marx, 36, of 5 Champlain Landing also denied in court charges of aggravated assault with a car and gross negligent operation. His hearing in Vermont Superior Court in North Hero lasted about four minutes.
Marx, who was dressed in a red prison jumpsuit, appeared by video from the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans Town, where he was lodged overnight.
Sgt. Nicholas Pillsbury, 34, of the Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department is the law enforcement officer that was run over in the incident, officials said.
Pillsbury was taken to the UVM Medical Center with multiple injuries, but was discharged early Thursday and is on the mend at home in Essex, state police spokesman Adam Silverman said.
Pillsbury has worked for the sheriff’s office for about 18 months. He was a recreation specialist for the City of South Burlington from March 2022 until June 2023. He also had served as the part-time Athletic Director at the Folsom School in South Hero.
Little is known about Marx. He has no known contacts with police or the courts, officials said.
Marx said little in court, mostly a short exchange at the end of the hearing on whether he would use a public defender or hire his own lawyer. Marx said he would let the court know.
Judge Navah C. Spero ordered Marx continued held without bail pending more proceedings.
Spero agreed with a defense request for a hearing on the weight of the evidence in the next 2 or 3 weeks to determine if that detention will continue.
Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito said he is waiting to receive more medical reports to determine if criminal charges should be amended.
DiSabito, who responded to the scene, said on Wednesday night the conduct of the driver was “outrageous.” He told The Islander it is unacceptable for anybody to be targeting a police officer, especially with a car.
Pillsbury stopped Marx for running a stop sign on Ferry Road (Vermont 314) at U.S. 2 about 8:10 p.m., officials said.
Marx denied he ran the stop sign and was hostile toward the deputy, who showed him the video of the incident, police said. Marx called Pillsbury crude names, became more agitated and said the deputy was going to ruin his life, police said.
It was unclear if the deputy issued a ticket or planned to mail him a copy, but Pillsbury soon wished Marx a better night, officials said.
Pillsbury said after he released Marx, he made a U-turn in his car on U.S. 2, police reported. Marx aimed for the deputy sheriff as the officer headed back to his marked police cruiser that was pulled over on the side of the road, officials said.
Pillsbury and the cruiser were struck by the 2022 Subaru Forester and he was dragged off the road toward a tree line, where it stopped, state police said.
The deputy was pinned face down, Detective Trooper Robert Lemnah reported. The driver tried to put the car in reverse, but apparently could not get it to move with the officer still pinned underneath, police said.
Ryan and Gabrielle Viens, who live at the crash scene, came out to investigate the crash and revving car engine, police said.
Marx reportedly fled on foot from the scene. The VIens reported a second deputy sheriff arrived and yelled at Marx to stop, but he ignored the command, police said.
The Viens provided assistance to Pillsbury, who reportedly passed out three times during the incident, police said.
It took about 30 minutes for first responders to free the deputy sheriff from under the car, while a massive manhunt was started, police said.
State police called in Sgt. Charlotte Hartman with her tracking K-9, along with State Trooper Seth Boudreau with a drone to help in the search.
Marx was eventually tracked to his home, where police surrounded it shortly before 11 p.m. He did not immediately come to the door, but members of the Vermont State Police, Grand Isle County Sheriff’s Department, Milton Police and Vermont Fish & Game Warden Service waited for him to come out. He surrendered without incident.
During the ride to the state police barracks in St. Albans, Marx asked how the deputy was doing and Sgt. John Bruzzi said he was in the hospital, police said. Marx declined a formal interview without a lawyer, court records show.
Troopers eventually lodged Marx at the St. Albans prison about 3 a.m. Friday.
Members of the VSP’s Crash Reconstruction Team, under the direction of its commander, Sgt. Christopher Hein, were called in to do a complete recreation of the accident.
Meanwhile officers from the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, under the direction of Detective Lt. Isaac Merriam, are taking the lead on the attempted homicide case.
Boudreau, who is part of the Crash Reconstruction Team, said both vehicles were impounded and towed to the state police barracks in St. Albans as part of the investigation. Boudreau also secured the in-car camera from the Dodge Charger the deputy was driving, court records note.