Late Saturday night turned into a scene of fear and violence at a Killington campsite, when a 61-year-old man from Mendon threatened and assaulted several individuals.
The Vermont State Police received a distress call from Jacob Fedinez, 21, of Trout Run, Pennsylvania, at around 11:30 p.m.
He reported a man at their campsite on Vermont Route 4, armed with an axe, hit their car and was threatening to cut people’s heads off.
Police investigation established that Ralph Schneider, armed with the deadly weapon, knowingly threatened the campsite occupants, leading to reasonable fear of death or serious injury among them.
Along with Fedinez, the victims of the terrifying incident included David Chandler, 42, from Campbellsville, Kentucky, and Lucas Shreck and Jace Hoffman, both 19, from Trout Run, Pennsylvania.
Upon arrival at the scene, authorities took Schneider into custody and transported him to the Rutland barracks for processing. A judicial official was subsequently contacted, and conditions of release were issued.
Schneider is currently lodged at the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility. The bail for Schneider has been set at $5000.
Hospital parking lot incident leads to domestic assault charge – Ryan John, 30, of Newport, is facing charges of first-degree aggravated domestic assault and second-degree unlawful restraint following an altercation in North Country Hospital’s parking lot, according to an affidavit filed by Newport Police Sergeant Charles Moulton.
Despite pleading not guilty, John was held on a $5,000 secured appearance bond as ordered by Judge Lisa Warren.
The incident took place on May 5, when Sergeant Moulton responded to a disturbance call from a private security company hired by the hospital.
He arrived to find a visibly upset woman who claimed to be regularly physically abused by John.
The security officers reported witnessing John push the woman to the ground.
The woman told Sergeant Moulton that she lived in constant fear of John, an allegation supported by the witness statements from the security personnel.
Patrolman Cody Sykes located John in a nearby location, where he denied the allegations of physical assault.
Load of lumber stolen – A large quantity of lumber was stolen from Evergreen Forest Products in Sutton on May 12.
Troopers from the Vermont State Police St. Johnsbury Barracks were advised of the theft.
Photo evidence obtained from the scene revealed Gale Berry, 77, of Sutton, loaded the lumber onto his truck and left the scene without paying. The stolen lumber’s estimated value is in excess of $1,400.
Berry was subsequently cited to appear in Caledonia County Superior Court on June 26 at 8:30 a.m. to answer to the charge of Grand Larceny.
Drilled hole in tank, syphoned gas – A 35-year-old man from New Hampshire was arrested following an incident in Newbury May 20.
Authorities say they were notified of a man stealing gas from a vehicle at P&H Truck Stop on Route 302 at around 9:00 a.m.
Police say they located the man, identified as Gregory Sargent, of Pike, NH, and learned that the owner of the vehicle, and another witness, observed Sargent actively syphoning gas from the vehicle after making a hole in the fuel tank.
Sargent was placed under arrest and transported to the St. Johnsbury barracks for processing.
At the conclusion of the processing, he was issued a citation to appear in court on July 12 to answer to the charges of unlawful mischief and petit larceny.
Troopers were assisted by members of the Wells River Fire Department.