RUTLAND—The Vermont state police continue to investigate a shooting by Rutland City police officers that occurred just after midnight, Wednesday, July 8.
Preliminary investigation indicated that Rutland City Police had been conducting a narcotics investigation on Terrill Street when the incident escalated and two Rutland men were injured. The victims, Michael Goodnough, 45, and Robert Vandriel, 32, have have been cooperative with the investigation.
The shooting occurred in a parking lot off Terrill Street after Goodnough allegedy drove his black 2000 Infinity QX4 SUV into Officer Nate Harvey, according to Rutland City Police Chief Brian Kilcullen.
Harvey suffered minor injuries.
Subsequently, Officer Tyler Billings fired upon the vehicle.
The shooting led to an approximate half-mile pursuit south on Route 7 (South Main Street), until the vehicle crashed into a tree near the intersection of Route 7 and Jackson Avenue. Goodnough, the driver, had been wounded by gunshots and was transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center, where he underwent surgery and then was recovering in intensive care.
Vandriel, the passenger, was injured as a result of the crash and was also transported to Rutland Regional Medical Center, where he was treated initially and then brought to the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington for further care.
Chief Kilcullen reported that five members of the Rutland City Police Dept. were present at the time of the shooting. All were veteran officers with three to eight years of service with the department. They are:
Cpl. Elias Anderson, seven years.
Officer Tyler Billings, three years.
Officer Nate Harvey, six years.
Officer Elizha Heter, five years.
Sgt. Adam Lucia, eight years.
State police investigators determined that Officer Billings fired his service weapon and has been placed on paid administrative leave as the investigation continues.
State police detectives and members of the crime scene search team processed the location where the shooting occurred and the site of the crash, near Main Street and Jackson Avenue; interviewed witnesses; and are reviewing video of the incident where available, including from police dashboard cameras and nearby surveillance systems that might have caught footage.
Police continue to ask that anyone with information about the incident or who has video or photographs that might be relevant contact the Rutland barracks at 802-773-9101.
Once complete, the investigation into the shooting will be turned over to the Vermont Attorney General’s Office and the Rutland County State’s Attorney’s Office for independent reviews of the use of force.
