Suspect wanted by ICE crashes into vehicles, flees

By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

A dangerous suspect wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crashed into law enforcement vehicles and fled the scene in South Burlington this morning, officials said.

Investigators have a home at 337 Dorset Street surrounded, and a search warrant is reportedly being sought from a federal judge to enter the residence and seized the wanted suspect, officials said.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Vermont declined comment on the active criminal investigation.

Supporters of Migrant Justice and others were at the scene yelling at ICE agents and offering support for the wanted suspect.

The South Burlington Emergency Dispatch Center received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident near 345 Dorset Street involving multiple vehicles about 7:38 a.m., police said.

Police Chief William Breault said city officers responded to the area and located an unoccupied car with extensive damage in the northbound travel lane of Dorset Street near Brookwood Drive.

He said police found a second damaged vehicle in the southbound lane of Dorset Street in the area of 435 Dorset Street. Two other damaged vehicles were found in the parking lot of the Dorset Commons apartment complex, across from the Tuttle Middle School, the chief said.

Breault said a preliminary investigation determined that federal agents with ICE attempted to apprehend an individual, believed to be associated with the area of 345 Dorset Street, when the suspect fled in a vehicle.

ICE agents attempted to box in the vehicle in the parking lot of 435 Dorset Street, an apartment complex. The vehicle again fled, resulting in damage to several ICE vehicles. As the wanted car fled, it collided with a vehicle traveling south. The operator and sole occupant of that vehicle was uninjured, the chief said.

The individual that ICE was seeking to detain abandoned his vehicle in the northbound lane of Dorset Street and fled on foot.

South Burlington Police Department were never made aware of the immigration enforcement activity due to a state policy that mandates no cooperation, officials said.

Breault said police only became aware as a result of the car crash on Dorset Street, which is a four-lane divided highway.

Police later learned from ICE officials the federal agents had responded to the area of 345 Dorset Street seeking to locate and detain a man related on a federal administrative warrant related to the individual’s immigration status.

The individual fled, resulting in the vehicle collisions, the chief said.

Federal agents believe that the individual returned to an apartment at 337 Dorset Street, and agents surrounded the building while awaiting the approval of a federal criminal warrant.

The chief said ICE requested assistance from the South Burlington Police due to a crowd of individuals protesting in the area, which is just south of the University Mall.

South Burlington officers responded and remain in the area with the purpose of ensuring the safety of federal law enforcement as well as the unimpeded ability for individuals to protest, the chief said.

Breault said police did not assist federal agents with the enforcement of the federal immigration violation.