PUTNEY, VT — A man was arrested after allegedly starting a chainsaw near deputies who were attempting to take him into custody on an active warrant.
James R. Rowe, 54, of Putney, was arrested at approximately 6:20 p.m. April 24 on Bellows Falls Road.
Deputies with the Windham County Sheriff’s Office had been attempting to locate Rowe regarding an arrest warrant issued for an incident on April 22.
The warrant was issued for charges of false alarm-fire-emergency, disorderly conduct and violation of conditions of release.
Deputies observed Rowe sitting in a chair in his front lawn alongside a large open fire.
When deputies surrounded Rowe and gave commands to surrender, he refused and disobeyed several verbal commands.
Rowe then picked up a chainsaw while deputies were standing in close proximity and started it.
One deputy, standing just feet away, tackled Rowe just after the chainsaw was started and took him to the ground without anyone being injured.
Rowe physically resisted arrest before being taken into custody.
Rowe was charged with arrest on warrant, violation of conditions of release, resisting arrest and aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer.
He was ordered held on $500 bail on the arrest warrant and $5,000 cash or surety bond with conditions on the new charges.
Rowe was later lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility and issued a criminal citation to appear April 27.
