State fire safety officials revoked occupancy in residence.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield and Vermont State Police on Friday raided again a long-troubling residence at 78 Valley Street that was the scene of a fatal shooting by police last August.

Five people, including the homeowner, were arrested, four of them on new drug charges, Springfield Police Chief Jeff Burnham said.  

The Vermont Office of Fire Safety on Friday also revoked the occupancy permit for the home, which has been a health and safety thorn in the side of the community for years. 

The shutdown order is based on fire, health and safety violations in the two-story home, according to Landon Wheeler, deputy director of the state office.  Red placards were put on the house telling the public there was no trespassing and it was unsafe, he said.

The Office of Fire Safety has conducted several inspections in recent years, and another was done on Friday with several state fire marshals doing a complete review, Wheeler said.

The final criminal charges on those arrested Friday will be made in conjunction with Windsor County State’s Attorney Ward Goodenough, the chief said. 

Police said the defendants and the tentative court charges are:

— Randi Sargent, 37, and Darren A. Loomis Jr., 43, both of Springfield, Vt.  possession of cocaine, possession of narcotics and carrying a deadly weapon while committing a felony;

— Johnavin Febus, 18, of Springfield, Mass., the same three criminal charges;

— The property owner, Paul Lachapelle Sr., 65, of Springfield, Vt, conspiracy and knowingly permitting sale of regulated drugs in a dwelling.

The old warrant was for:  Benjamin Runnells, 38, of Springfield, Vt. on charges of fraudulent possession of a credit card, credit card fraud, cruelty to animals, retail theft and larceny, prison records show.  He was lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield about 7:20 a.m.

The four facing drug charges were lodged between 5:30 and 6 p.m. at the Springfield prison.

The raid, which was based on a drug warrant, began at about 6 a.m. with members of the VSP Swat team using loudspeakers to order the occupants out of the home, according to witnesses.

The occupants were initially uncooperative, and police were forced to use tear gas and flash bangs to flush the suspects out.

Work crews later boarded up some windows that were damaged during the raid when police sent in the various devices to encourage residents to come outside. 

An estimated 10 people appeared to eventually exit the residence and at least one person appeared to have been arrested immediately, a witness told Vermont News First.  At least five people were transported to the Springfield Police station.

Officers seized suspected cocaine and oxycodone, $1,342 in cash, a shotgun and a Glock, Burnham said.   Hartford Police and the Vermont Drug Task Force also were on hand for assistance.

Valley Street was shut down for a few hours as police conducted their business to make the scene safe before completing the court-ordered search of the premises.

Goodenough said early Friday afternoon he had been in court much of the day and had not received a report back from Springfield Police.  He said his office routinely works with police in securing a search warrant from a judge and he will review the reports to determine charges.

Valley Street is well known for its violence and interstate drug cases over the years.  Federal, state and local law enforcement have conducted multiple raids at 78 Valley Street and other nearby homes for a wide range of criminal conduct, mostly drugs and violence.

The deployment of the SWAT team for the VSP also meant an automatic response from members on its Bomb Squad and Drone Unit.

Until Friday when the Vermont Office of Fire Safety stepped in, there was little positive action on closing down the known drug house. 

Unlike other Vermont communities shutting down troubled sites, there has been no known positive action by the Springfield Selectboard or town administration for the ongoing problems at 78 Valley Street. Other communities have used health and building codes to shut down problem buildings.

Burnham said the town has been trying for 18 months to shut down the residence, but has had “no traction” like other communities in Vermont. 

State prosecutors announced earlier this year that they did not plan to file criminal charges against two police officers involved in the fatal shooting at 78 Valley Street in August.

The Vermont Attorney General announced that she had come to the same conclusion on the same day about the police shooting as the Rutland County State’s Attorney’s Office.

The two reviews were independent, the AG’s office said in making the joint announcement.

Attorney General Charity Clark said she would not prosecute Windsor County Sheriff Deputy Bryan Jalava and Springfield Police Officer Vincent Franchi for the use of deadly force in the fatal shooting of James Crary.

They were among a group of officers from their departments to arrive at 78 Valley Street shortly before 9 p.m. Aug. 21, 2025 to try to arrest Matthew Hewitt in response to a report of an assault and robbery and a kidnapping, officials said.

The incident happened earlier that afternoon involving Hewitt and another suspect, Roger Colby, officials said.