There are Family Feuds, and Then There's This

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* updated *

There are Vermont State Police press releases that reporters scan and barely read, and then there are more interesting missives, such as the one that arrived this morning from the St. Albans barracks.

VSP releases generally take the Joe Friday "just the facts ma'am" approach — sometimes even less. Occassionally you'll get a wry comment thrown in for good measure.

I'll always remember one particular line I came across in the 1980s when I worked at the Barton Chronicle. A trooper in the Derby barracks was filling out the requisite paperwork to detail the damage done to a car after it struck a deer. Just how many times can you write, "The operator's vehicle struck a deer" in a given week?

That's where this trooper decided to take some literary license, noting: "the operator's vehicle struck a doe, a deer, a female deer."

What Trooper Timothy Woch's report below about breaking up a family fight in Franklin County lacks in references to famous musicals, it makes up for in scene setting.

So, I offer this post-Thanksgiving nugget in hopes that you can say no matter how bitter the argument or disagreement that you didn't have to call in the cops. And, when you did call them, that you didn't turn on them, like this family did.

Here the report as issued to the Vermont media at 12:41 a.m.

VIOLATION: Assault on State Trooper, Resisting Arrest, Domestic Assault,
Disorderly Conduct
 
ACCUSED: Jacquelyn Mitchell                       
AGE: 21
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: East Fairfield, VT
 
VICTIMS: State Police and Family Members                                       
                      
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
 
On 11/25/2010 at approximately 1930 hours as many families across Vermont were enjoying the company of family and friends over Thanksgiving Dinner, State Troopers assigned to the St. Albans Barracks responded to an East Fairfield residence for a domestic assault during which an out-of-control 21 year-old assaulted her father.

Upon arrival, State Troopers observed an intoxicated 21-year-old Jacquelyn Mitchell from East Farifield being restrained by her family. As State Troopers attempted to place Mitchell under arrest, Mitchell wildly and uncontrollably hurled spit and phlegm in the faces of the Troopers.

As the Troopers attempted to transfer Mitchell into their custody, the family — who had initially been thankful that the State Police had arrived to assist them in their time of need — turned on the Troopers and engaged them in a "pack mentality" as the Troopers attempted to control Mitchell and render the scene safe.
 
Mitchell was ultimately transported to the St. Albans Barracks for processing. During the transport and upon arrival at the Barracks, Mitchell screamed graphic homophobic slurs toward Troopers and needed to be physically restrained on multiple occasions.

Mitchell was lodged at the Northwest Correctional Facility on charges of Assault on Law Enforcement, Resisting Arrest, Domestic Assault, and Disorderly Conduct.

So, how did you spend your Thanksgiving?

* update at 3:50 p.m. *

At around noon, Patrol Commander Jim Bose issued a corrected and updated press release that was nearly identical from the earlier missive issued by Woch. The key difference is the paragraph noting the family's "pack mentality" and turning on the troopers was removed.

So, why did he remove the paragraph?

Bose explained his editing to Seven Days via email: "I removed the paragraph because I was there and this was not the case!"

Comments

[Liz]

Splendid, Shay, thanks! Something to aspire to in future years. I'm sure we can achieve a pack mentality...

[Sir Winston Thriller]

Some people just can't handle it when all the green bean casserole is gone.

[anthony cannone]

Never a dull moment...

[Penny Chevalier]

Drunk and disorderly in East Fairfield? What are the odds? Disturbed people live in these remote towns because they are antisocial or somehow unable to manage their lives. It's too bad we can't just put a high fence around Fairfield, Bakersfield, Enosburg and Highgate and let them all drink themselves to death and go at their inbreeding and hillbilly ways without bothering or endangering us or our goodhearted law enforcement personnel.

[Todd for Vermont House]

Wow, Penny. If you need a broader brush to paint with, just lemme know.

[Penny Chevalier]

Touche Todd, I am over reaching a bit...but not by much. Franklin county is notorious nationwide. I know so many people living in that area, each with serious problems, whether notorious drinkers, womanizers, or simply incapable of holding down a job. These problems exist everywhere, but seem especially prevalent in that area, perhaps because borderline personalities, drunks and losers are able to get away with more of their shenanigans because there are fewer people to see or catch them?

[Todd for Vermont House]

Franklin county is notorious nationwide.

LOL. Yes, I read it about it in the Times every day.

I know so many people living in that area, each with serious problems, whether notorious drinkers, womanizers, or simply incapable of holding down a job.

Perhaps you just tend to know the wrong people.

Me, I know lots here who are nothing but decent, industrious and thrifty folk. Good farmers, blue collar workers, etc.

But maybe you have some actual data to bolster your case? And more humane solutions...?

[Jess Wilson]

I'm a little late to the party here because I was out of town for Thanksgiving and as a result missed my family's celebration in Fairfield. But I did speak with them and I am happy to report that no one was shot, arrested or drunk. I guess my family will have to step it up a notch if we want to live up to Franklin County's "nationwide" notoriety.

[Ryan]

WOW. Penny you should go back to the hole you came out of. I will admit theres the occasional whacko in these areas but that doesn't put us all in that category. With this thinking I guess I will never go to Burlington cause there was a few stabbings in recent months. The problem with Franklin Co. is theres no jobs. It has been the Dairy capital of the Northeast and I dare say the U.S., at one point, and now because of your big city politics the dairy industry will never be the same. With this, most of the family farms are gone which has slowly eroded the family life and morals within each other. I don't care what anyone says about northern Franklin Co. cause its home to me and if you don't like it leave and never show your face hear. The less stupid people I have to deal with the better.

[Just Sayin']

"there was a few stabbings"?

You mean there "were" a few stabbings?

"Never show your face hear"?

You mean "here"?

"The less stupid people I have to deal with"?

You mean "fewer"?