For Immediate Release

Tuesday, April 30, 2019

News Media Contact: John Guilfoil
Phone: 617-993-0003
Email: [email protected]

Newport Police Charge Two After Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle

NEWPORT, Vermont — Chief Seth DiSanto reports that Newport Police arrested two people yesterday after they allegedly led police on a motor vehicle pursuit in a stolen SUV.

JUSTIN MORGAN, AGE 27, OF NEWPORT was charged with

• Aggravated Operation without Owners Consent
• Attempting to Elude, Grossly Negligent Operation
• Excessive Speed
• Attempted Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer (two counts)
• Recklessly Endangering Another Person
• Possessing Stolen Property

CARRIE TETREAULT, AGE 32, OF SHEFFIELD was charged with Aggravated Operation without Owners Consent.

Police were notified on Monday, April 29 that a white 2016 Toyota Rav4 had been stolen and was likely being operated by TETREAULT.  TETREAULT is known to police.

Newport Police officers were working a detail on Glen Road when they saw the vehicle at approximately 12:26 p.m , which they identified by its license plate. MORGAN is known to police, and Newport Police recognized him as the driver of the vehicle. TETREAULT was sitting in the passenger seat.

When police attempted to perform a motor vehicle stop, the vehicle took off at a high rate of speed after initially pulling over. The vehicle sped through a construction zone in the road, endangering the lives of workers, one of whom was placing cones and signs in the roadway.

The vehicle almost struck Sheriff Kirk Martin, who was deploying spike strips at the intersection of Fern Street and Glen Road, but the vehicle swerved onto a lawn.

The SUV reached speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour and nearly struck a pedestrian walking his dog on West Echo Lake Road.

After the vehicle got stuck in mud on Sanderson Hill Road, MORGAN and TETREAULT fled on foot. Police tracked them with the assistance of  K-9 Ozzy, and placed them under arrest after they were found running behind a residence on Route 5A.

During their pursuit, Newport Police were assisted by Vermont State Police and the  Orleans County Sheriff’s Department, including Deputy Tyler Jacobs and K-9 Jonah. They also received air support from U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Vermont Fish and Wildlife.

“This was a dangerous incident involving two people fleeing from police in a stolen car who were willing to endanger the lives of pedestrians, road workers and police officers” Chief DiSanto said. “Due to the professionalism and teamwork of police officers from Newport and two of our partner agencies, we were able to effectively track, stop and locate these individuals, and no one was hurt during the reckless actions of the suspects. Thank you to the agencies who supported and assisted us in this incident yesterday, and to our Newport officers for their diligent work.”

MORGAN was held on $2,500 bail at Northern State Correctional Facility.

TETREAULT was released on the condition that she appear in court for arraignment. The suspects are scheduled to be arraigned in Orleans District Court on Tuesday.

These are allegations. All suspects are considered innocent until proven guilty.

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