Armed fugitive facing local charges following manhunt

WESTPORT | After a multi-agency several-day manhunt, an armed fugitive from Vermont was taken into custody near Crown Point State Park and is now facing a range of local charges. The search for Collen J. Gardner, 48, began March 13 when troopers were alerted to a damaged and abandoned vehicle at the Westport Fish and Game Club. The car, with door and windshield damage, was stuck on a snowmobile trail leading to Mountain Spring Road. A search of the vehicle connected it to Gardner, a registered sex offender wanted by Vermont State Police for parole violations. A multi-agency search was launched scouring nearby woods and camps. The following day, Gardner was spotted by New York State DEC forest rangers who directed him to stop. Gardner allegedly fired a shot in their direction and fled, prompting a statewide alert that he was considered armed and dangerous and cautioning residents about the heightened safety concerns. On Saturday, as the intense manhunt continued, Gardner was located by members of the Clinton County Sheriff's Department, Essex County Sheriff's Department, and a State Police member, as he walked on the ice of Lake Champlain toward Crown Point. When confronted, police said, he was in possession of what appeared to be a black rifle. Following commands from law enforcement, Gardner dropped the weapon and continued walking. Due to hazardous ice conditions, law enforcement agencies chose not to intervene but set up a perimeter around the area. At approximately 1:15 p.m., Gardner was arrested near Crown Point State Park without incident by State Police, Clinton County Sheriff's Department, and Forest Rangers. Gardner was given medical attention and transported to the Lewis barracks for further questioning and processing. He was subsequently arraigned in the Town of Westport Court and remanded to Essex County Jail without bail. Gardner is now facing multiple charges, including two counts of menacing a police officer, third-degree criminal possession of a weapon (previous conviction), and two counts of attempted assault in the second degree with intent to cause physical injury. State Police received assistance from the Essex County Sheriff's Department, Clinton County Sheriff's Department, New York State Forest Rangers, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Tri-County SORT, and the Essex County District Attorney's Office. During the manhunt, the State Police utilized multiple units, including NYSP SORT, UTVs, ATVs, snowmobiles, and K9s. Vermont State Police were informed that Gardner was arrested and being held at Essex County Jail.

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Armed fugitive facing local charges following manhunt

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