ARLINGTON, Vt. (AP) - An Arlington man was shot and wounded by police early Monday after he fired multiple times at state troopers, Vermont State Police said.
Matt Novick was undergoing treatment at an Albany, New York, hospital for multiple gunshot wounds, police said. His condition was unknown.
State police received a 911 call at 3:50 a.m. from a relative of Novick who lives near him, saying Novick was having a mental health crisis.
When two troopers arrived, they said Novick was in the doorway carrying what appeared to be a semi-automatic rifle. Troopers parked in the road and other police were called in to help.
A preliminary investigation shows Novick walked down the driveway and fired in their direction, state police said. Troopers fired back and Novick was hit multiple times, police said.
He was taken by ambulance to the Southwestern Medical Center in Bennington and then flown by helicopter to Albany Medical Center, where he underwent surgery, police said. Bullet holes were found in the state police cruiser, police said.
No other injuries were reported.
A Vermont State police unit is investigation the shooting, police said. The offices of the Vermont attorney general and the Bennington County state’s attorney will review the investigation.
Confrontations between individuals and police that have led to officer-involved shootings have increased over the past 18 months, said Col. Matthew T. Birmingham, director of the Vermont State Police.
“The frequency of these incidents is highly concerning, and the police, public, mental-health community and leaders of the state need to closely examine this trend and work hard to reverse it,” he said in a written statement.
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