Local Honored for Assisting Warden with Assailant

[Smallie_Stalker]

Excerpted from the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Newsletter - May 15, 2017

Local Honored for Assisting Warden with Assailant

Media Contacts: Maj. George Scribner, 802-828-1529
                                  Lt. Dave Gregory, 802-751-0100


AVERILL, Vt. – The Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department and Fish and Wildlife Board recently honored Dale Gilman of Danville, Vermont, for coming to the assistance of warden Randy Hazard at an incident in Averill, Vermont, in July 2016.

Warden Hazard noticed John A. Gagnon, 48, of Norton, Vermont, swimming illegally at the Averill Pond access area. When Hazard attempted to question him, Gagnon charged the warden, knocking him down and repeatedly punching him in the head.

Dale Gilman was at the access area launching a boat with his family that afternoon and witnessed the assault taking place. He quickly ran to Warden Hazard's aid. With Gilman's assistance, Hazard freed himself, and subdued and handcuffed his attacker. A few minutes later, the assailant attempted to flee by running handcuffed into the lake and had to be rescued by the warden.

Additional law enforcement soon arrived and assisted with the arrest and processing.

"Without the help of Mr. Gilman, this very well could have ended in tragedy," said Col. Jason Batchelder. "We can't thank him enough for stepping in to help. Because of his heroic act, nobody was critically injured, and law enforcement were able to arrest Mr. Gagnon and charge him with assaulting an officer."

[Smallie_Stalker]

We already know this criminal was stupid but this line proves just how much "stupid" he suffered from.

"A few minutes later, the assailant attempted to flee by running handcuffed into the lake and had to be rescued by the warden". 

I don't know about the rest of you, but if I was that warden I might have been thinking twice about rescuing a man who had just tried to beat me half to death. 

[Lipripper]

That wasn't to smart of him. 

[Mike Cork]

Very cool of the department to recognize his help  and for the officer to save him...

I'm afraid if it were me I would have had to see how well he could swim handcuffed. I would have even took side bets with the guy that just helped me... I have no patients for idiots.

[Smallie_Stalker]

Very cool of the department to recognize his help  and for the officer to save him...

I'm afraid if it were me I would have had to see how well he could swim handcuffed. I would have even took side bets with the guy that just helped me... I have no patients for idiots.

Me either Mike. But you know what they say, you can't fix stupid. 

[TNDiver]

"Well, Sarge, I couldn't see the suspect flee on the count of these two swollen eyes and all the blood.  I heard some splashing in the water, but I didn't realize he jumped back in!"   

[Smallie_Stalker]

"Well, Sarge, I couldn't see the suspect flee on the count of these two swollen eyes and all the blood.  I heard some splashing in the water, but I didn't realize he jumped back in!"