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VERMONT STATE POLICE
PRESS RELEASE
INCIDENT: High Speed Pursuit – Several Criminal Charges Resulting
CASE #: 12D301907
Trooper Erik McNeice
STATION: Royalton
ASSISTING AGENCIES: Hartford Police Department, Windsor Police Department,
Woodstock Police Department, Lebanon (NH) Police Department.
CONTACT#: 802-234-9933
DATE/TIME: 05/16/12 @ approximately 2332 hours
LOCATION (specific): US RT 4 (Woodstock Road)
Woodstock, VT

VIOLATION: Grossly Negligent Operation, Attempting to Elude, Violation of
Conditions of Release

ACCUSED: William D. Verboncoeur
AGE: 54

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Windsor, VT

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On 05/16/12, at approximately 2307 hours, the Vermont State Police was notified that the Lebanon, NH Police had been involved in a pursuit of a 1996 Toyota Camry, registered to William Verboncoeur, of Windsor, VT. It was reported that said vehicle got onto Interstate 89 from Lebanon, NH and began traveling northbound in the southbound lane. Just prior to this, the Windsor, VT Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop on said vehicle for speeding at which time the vehicle failed to stop and proceeded over the covered bridge in Windsor into Cornish, NH. Windsor Police followed said vehicle until Lebanon officer’s located the vehicle on Rt. 12A.

Officer’s lost sight with the vehicle on I-89 in the area of mile marker 2. It was also reported to VSP that the operator, Verboncoeur, may be suicidal and may be attempting “suicide by cop”.

State Police located said vehicle traveling north on Quechee/Hartland Road in Quechee. State Police attempted to initiate a traffic stop on said vehicle at which time the vehicle failed to stop and a pursuit was initiated.

State Police pursued said vehicle several miles traveling westbound on US Route 4 through Quechee and into Woodstock. Speeds reached up to 70 MPH and Verboncoeur was operating in an erratic manner.

The Woodstock Police were able to deploy a tire deflating device as the vehicle entered Woodstock Village. Both front tires were deflated and Verboncoeur brought his vehicle to a stop on US Route 4 in front of the Woodstock Hardware Store. Verboncoeur quickly exited his vehicle and began walking towards the trooper saying “Shoot me!”.

Verboncoeur was subdued by the trooper with an electronic control device (Taser) and was taken into custody without further incident. At the scene, Verboncoeur stated that he wanted to die and wanted the trooper to shoot him. No weapsons were located on Verboncoeur’s person or inside his vehicle. Members from the Hartford Police Department also assisted on at the scene.

Verboncoeur was transported to the Royalton Barracks for processing and was also screened by the Clara Martin Center without incident. It was also determined that Verboncoeur had active conditions of release from two criminal cases out of the Windsor County Superior Court Criminal Division. Verboncoeur is also facing criminal charges from the Windsor Police Department including negligent operation, attempting to elude, and excessive speed.

Bail was set at $10,000 cash or surety and Verboncoeur was lodged at the Souther State Correctional Facility without further incident. He is due in court on 05/17/12 at 1230 hours.