***Update, 2:50 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, 2018***
The Vermont State Police will be bringing Bernard Rougeau back to Vermont on Thursday morning, Nov. 15, 2018. He is scheduled to be arraigned at 1 p.m. in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Bennington.
***Update, 3:50 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018***
On Tuesday, Nov. 13, 2018, Bernard Rougeau was discharged from Albany Medical Center in New York and arrested by Albany City Police on an arrest warrant from Vermont arising from the Oct. 18 incident in Pownal. Mr. Rougeau was transported to Albany City Court, where he waived extradition to Vermont. He is being transported to the Albany County Jail, where the Vermont State Police will make arrangements to return him to Vermont for arraignment on charges arising from the Pownal incident.
***Update,12:35 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 24, 2018***
A warrant was issued by Vermont Superior Court Judge William Cohen on Oct. 22, 2018, for the arrest of Bernard D. Rougeau on suspicion of the offenses ofaggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, reckless endangerment and interference with access to emergency services. Judge Cohen set bail at $100,000.
Rougeau remains hospitalizedat Albany Medical Center in New York, and his condition is unchanged. His arraignment is pending his release from the hospital.
***Update,4:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 19, 2018***
Vermont State Police The Vermont State Police is identifying Trooper Thomas Sandberg as the trooper who discharged his firearm during the encounter with Mr Bernard Rougeau Thursday night. Trooper Sandberg, 23, was hired by the Vermont State Police in July 2017, and he was assigned to the Shaftsbury Barracks in January 2018.
VSP photo of Trooper Thomas Sandberg
Also present when the incident occurred were Troopers Justin Walker and Raymond Witkowski, both of the Shaftsbury Barracks, and Bennington Police Department Sgt. Jason Burnham.
Albany Medical Center in New York is reporting that Mr. Rougeau’s condition has been stabilized.
***Initial news release, 7 a.m. Oct. 19, 2018***
POWNAL, VT - On Thursday night, Oct. 18, 2018 at approximately 9:22 pm Vermont State Police received a 911 call from a family member of Bernard Rougeau, age 48 of Pownal, VT. The caller reported that Rougeau was intoxicated and had intentionally cut himself. Troopers from the Shaftsbury barracks responded to the residence located at 52 Short Drive in Pownal arriving at approximately 9:45 pm. An officer from the Bennington Police Department responded to assist. Upon arrival, responding troopers learned that Rougeau had left the residence in possession of a long gun and was believed to have entered a wooded area behind the residence. Troopers remained on scene and communicated directly with family members of Rougeau while taking a position outside the residence. At approximately 10:40 pm Rougeau emerged from the woods holding a shotgun and did not comply when troopers ordered him to drop the gun. A trooper closest to Rougeau’s position fired his department issued shotgun at Rougeau, wounding him. Rougeau was then taken into custody and transported from the scene by Pownal rescue and was subsequently airlifted to Albany Medical Center for treatment of his injuries.
Detectives with the Vermont State Police Major Crime Unit and Bureau of Criminal Investigations responded to investigate this shooting. The Crime Scene Search Team has been activated and will be responding during daylight hours to process the scene and collect evidence. Detectives are working closely with the Bennington County State’s Attorney and have notified the Attorney General’s Office. Once the investigation is complete it will be reviewed independently by the Bennington County State’s Attorney and Attorney General as is customary for all officer involved shootings in Vermont. Preliminary investigation revealed that this shooting was captured on video from a Vermont State Police cruiser on scene.
The trooper involved is not being identified at this time, and has been placed on administrative leave pursuant to Vermont State Police policy. Bernard Rougeau is currently listed in critical condition at Albany Medical Center where he is undergoing treatment for injuries he sustained as a result of this shooting. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-442-5421.
Nothing further at this time, additional information will be released when it becomes available.