Officer-involved use of force investigation underway in Newfane

NEWFANE, Vt. (WCAX) - Vermont State Police say they’re investigating an officer-involved use of force incident in Newfane.

It happened early Friday morning when police say a homeowner called them about a visitor acting irrationally and causing damage.

Police say when they arrived at 521 Route 30, they found on the roof. Friday evening, police identified that man as Marshall Dean, 61, of Newfane.

Troopers say they tried to de-escalate the situation but they were not successful.

Eventually, they shot a nonlethal bean-bag-type round at Dean, which hit him. Police say a short time later, he slipped off the roof and fell about 15 feet to the ground. He was sent to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Friday evening, police said Dean was undergoing surgery at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center.

Police are treating the incident as an officer-involved shooting.

“Due to the individual’s injuries, it is important that we treat this with the utmost care. So, we have our bureau of criminal investigations, our major crime unit, our crime scene search team, troopers from the field force division are all involved,” said Adam Silverman, a spokesperson for the Vermont State Police.

Police say the troopers involved in the incident are on paid leave, which is the regular procedure after critical incidents. They say the trooper’s identities will be released Saturday.

Vermont State Police say the Major Crimes Unit will investigate the case, along with detectives from field stations outside the area where the incident occurred to avoid any conflict of interest.

When the investigation is complete, it will be turned over to the attorney general’s office and state’s attorney’s office to review the use of force. The Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office recused itself from the case and referred the review to the Orleans County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Copyright 2022 WCAX. All rights reserved.