Vermont Business Magazine The Vermont State Police early Wednesday morning responded to a call from Chris Recchia, the state's commissioner of the Department of Public Service, of an apparent demonstration at his home in Randolph. Recchia told the group, which he said numbered 11 individuals, that they were trespassing and asked them to leave. VSP reported (see incident report below) that the protesters had left by the time they had reached Recchia's home. The group was apparently an anti-petroleum energy group, but their motivation was not clear. The VSP is asking the public for assistance in gaining further information on the incident.
STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY
VERMONT STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
CASE#: 16D301776
TROOPER: Kelsey Knapp
STATION: Royalton
CONTACT#: 802-234-9933
DATE/TIME: 05-25-16/Approximately 06:37 hours
LOCATION: Tatro Hill Rd. Randolph, VT
VIOLATION: Trespassing, Unlawful Mischief, Disorderly Conduct
ACCUSED: UNK
VICTIM: Christopher Recchia/ Commissioner of Public Service Department
AGE: 57
CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Randolph VT
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: On 05-25-16 at approximately 06:37 hours State Police
Royalton received a call from Public Service Commissioner Christopher Recchia
who advised that there were approximately 11 protesters in his yard and that
they had blocked his driveway with cones.
State Police responded to the residence and upon arrival the protesters had
already departed from the house.
Commissioner Recchia advised that some of the protesters knocked on his door and
asked him to sign some type of affidavit. Commissioner Recchia refused to sign
it, told them that they were trespassing and to leave the property. The
protesters did not leave, and put up a wooden replica of an oil derrick, drove
stakes into the ground, painted orange lines in the driveway, and set up cones
at the end of the driveway. They secured the oil derrick with wooden stakes and
surrounded it with yellow caution tape. Commissioner Recchia advised they
started a chain saw and he was concerned of property damage, but then saw that
the chain saw did not have a cutting chain on it.
Commissioner Recchia advised that the protesters were using a blue vehicle and a
truck painted camouflage.
The State Police continue to investigate this incident and are attempting to
identify the people who were at Commissioner Recchia's residence.
The State Police Royalton are asking anyone with information about this incident
to call 802-234-9933.