VERSHIRE, VT — A 41-year-old man faces multiple charges including drug possession and eluding police following a month-long investigation that began with a dispute call.
Patrick Southworth, of Vershire, was arrested May 4 after Vermont State Police executed a search warrant at his residence.
The investigation began on the evening of April 6 when troopers responded to a dispute at a residence on Beaver Meadow Road.
While investigating that call, troopers located Southworth in a vehicle on the property and determined he had active arrest warrants in both Vermont and New Hampshire.
The Vermont warrant was for felony unlawful trespass and the extraditable New Hampshire warrant was for felony possession of fentanyl.
Southworth fled the scene in the vehicle when troopers approached, according to police.
The vehicle was later located at 1151 Parker Road in Vershire and seized as evidence.
A subsequent investigation revealed fentanyl and methamphetamine in the vehicle, police said.
Troopers made multiple attempts to contact Southworth at his residence and in the greater Vershire area without success.
A search warrant for the residence was applied for and granted.
On May 4, the search warrant was executed by members of the State Police Tactical Services Unit, as well as uniformed and Bureau of Criminal Investigation troopers from the St. Johnsbury barracks.
Southworth was taken into custody without incident and transported to Orange County Superior Court.
He faces charges of negligent operation, eluding a police officer, excessive speed, resisting arrest, false reports to law enforcement authorities, impeding a public officer, possession of fentanyl, possession of methamphetamine and fugitive from justice, in addition to the in-state arrest warrants.
Southworth was later lodged at Northeast Regional Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 bail.
