Arrests by Vermont police over the weekend include a man accused of aggravated assault with an axe, a suspected fentanyl trafficker with multiple outstanding warrants, and an individual charged in a child sexual assault case.

Axe Incident leads to assault charge in Montpelier

On Sunday, May 4, at approximately 3:46 p.m., the Montpelier Police Department responded to a 911 call from 28-year-old Randolph Tatro, who claimed he had been assaulted by someone throwing a rock at him. According to Tatro, he used an axe to defend himself and prevent further pursuit by the alleged assailant.

Tatro, however, refused to meet with officers and declined medical attention. A subsequent investigation revealed that Tatro had allegedly swung the axe—a potentially lethal weapon—at a man during a property dispute. Police say the action escalated following a verbal confrontation.

Tatro was taken into custody, processed at the Montpelier Police Department, and subsequently transferred to the Department of Probation and Parole for violating the terms of his probation. He was lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury and is scheduled to be arraigned on a felony charge of Aggravated Assault at Washington County Superior Court on May 5 at 12:30 p.m.

This isn’t Tatro’s first encounter with Montpelier PD. Last year he allegedly burglarized City Hall, and in 2021 – already “known to police” as a transient with mental health problems – allegedly set a trashbin on fire behind the city parking garage. In one of these incidents, police report that his talk turned from suicidal to homicidal.

Fentanyl trafficking arrest in Lyndonville

In a separate case, a routine traffic observation by a Lyndonville Police Department officer on May 3 led to the arrest of Tyler Bathalon, 32. The officer noted suspicious activity near Middle Street and conducted a stop on Memorial Drive near South Wheelock Road.

Bathalon, known to local law enforcement, was found to have several active arrest warrants across multiple jurisdictions. Charges include DUI drugs, providing false information to police, identity theft, multiple probation violations, and several felonies—among them fentanyl trafficking and possession of over 2.5 grams of cocaine.

He was lodged at the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility on a no-bail hold for a felony domestic assault charge, in addition to $21,400 bail for the other outstanding warrants. Bathalon was also cited for a new offense of driving with a criminally suspended license and issued three civil traffic tickets. He is due in Caledonia Superior Court on June 23.

Child sexual assault arrest in Danville

State Police on May 2 announced the arrest of a Danville man on child sex abuse charges.

On April 24, the Vermont State Police and the Department of Children and Families launched a joint investigation into an allegation of child sexual abuse. As a result, Keith Olson, 39, of Danville, was arrested and charged with sexual assault.

Olson has been ordered held without bail and is scheduled to appear in Caledonia Criminal Court on May 5.