Crime
Proof signifies that the suspect crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the officer’s cruiser, police mentioned.
RUTLAND, Vt. (AP) — A Vermont police officer was killed and two different officers had been injured when a housebreaking suspect crashed into two police cruisers pursuing him, Vermont State Police mentioned.
Rutland Metropolis Police Officer Jessica Ebbighausen, 19, was killed on Friday afternoon. The crash occurred as police chased a automobile pushed by Tate Rheaume, 20, a suspect in an tried break-in at a home, state police mentioned.
Proof signifies that Rheaume crossed the centerline and collided head-on with the Ebbighausen’s cruiser, police mentioned. The suspect’s truck additionally hit one other police cruiser.
Ebbighausen was pronounced useless on the scene. Two different officers and Rheaume had been taken to Rutland Regional Medical Heart for what are believed to be non-life-threatening accidents, police mentioned. Rheaume was transferred to the College of Vermont Medical Heart in Burlington.
State police mentioned they’re investigating the function impairment and velocity performed within the crash and are working with the Rutland County state’s legal professional on potential prices. It was not instantly recognized if Rheaume is being represented by an legal professional.
Ebbighausen, of Ira, Vermont, began working with the Rutland Police Division in Might as a part-time officer, state police mentioned. She was scheduled to begin coaching in August on the Vermont Police Academy to change into a full-time officer, police mentioned.
“We’re hurting proper now,” mentioned Rutland Metropolis Police Chief Brian Kilcullen on Friday as he requested for group assist, in response to the Rutland Herald.
Ebbighausen had wished to be a police officer since she was 9 years previous, Kilcullen mentioned. She did an internship with the police division throughout highschool, he mentioned.
“She all the time had a smile on her face,” Kilcullen mentioned. “We had been wanting ahead to having her as a part of our household.”
The division had lately modified its insurance policies to discourage high-speed pursuits, he mentioned, however didn’t focus on the adjustments additional on Friday, the newspaper reported.
“I’m right here at this time to mourn, actually, the lack of a member of the family,” he mentioned. “The state police are conducting the investigation. In some unspecified time in the future, we’ll evaluate the whole lot.”
Earlier than Ebbighausen’s loss of life, 28 Vermont officers had died within the line of responsibility, together with 2 in automobile pursuits, in response to the Officer Down Memorial Web page, which tracks legislation enforcement deaths. Of these Vermont officers whose ages are listed, she was by far the youngest.