SOUTH BURLINGTON, VT — The South Burlington Police Department is investigating a multi-vehicle crash that occurred during a federal immigration enforcement operation on Dorset Street.
At approximately 7:38 a.m., the South Burlington Police Dispatch Center received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident in the area of 345 Dorset Street involving multiple vehicles.
Officers responded to the area and located an unoccupied vehicle with extensive damage in the northbound travel lane of Dorset Street in the area of Brookwood Drive.
Officers located a second damaged vehicle in the southbound lane of Dorset Street in the area of 435 Dorset Street, as well as two damaged vehicles in the parking lot of the Dorset Commons apartment complex, located at 435 Dorset Street.
A preliminary investigation determined that federal agents with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement attempted to apprehend an individual, believed to be associated with the area of 345 Dorset Street, when the individual fled in a vehicle.
ICE agents attempted to box in the vehicle in the parking lot of 435 Dorset Street, which is south of the original location at 345 Dorset Street.
The vehicle again fled, resulting in damage to several ICE vehicles.
As the vehicle fled, it collided with a vehicle traveling south.
The operator and sole occupant of that vehicle was not injured.
The individual that ICE was seeking to detain abandoned his vehicle in the northbound lane of Dorset Street and fled on foot.
The South Burlington Police Department was not made aware of the immigration enforcement activity and only became aware as a result of the crash investigation.
Additional information obtained by the South Burlington Police Department from ICE officials revealed that ICE officials responded to the area of 345 Dorset Street seeking to locate and detain a male individual related to a federal administrative warrant related to the individual’s immigration status.
Federal agents believe that the individual returned to an apartment at 337 Dorset Street, and agents surrounded the building while awaiting the approval of a federal criminal warrant.
At approximately 8:45 a.m., agents with ICE requested assistance from the South Burlington Police Department due to a crowd of individuals protesting in the area.
South Burlington officers responded and remain in the area with the purpose of ensuring the safety of federal law enforcement as well as the unimpeded ability for individuals to protest.
The South Burlington Police Department did not assist federal agents with the enforcement of this federal immigration violation.
Southbound traffic on Dorset Street is closed at Garden Street and the southern entrance to the U-mall.
Northbound traffic is being re-routed on to San Remo Drive.
