Police have arrested a Newport woman who last month allegedly drove away from a traffic stop and dragged a state trooper about 50 yards before he could break free.
Angela Birk, 40, pleaded not guilty Thursday and was jailed at Northern State Correctional Facility on $5,000 bail, Vermont State Police said in a press release Thursday.
Troopers pulled Birk over in Derby at about 2:25 p.m. Thursday for a motor vehicle infraction and arrested her after she was found to have active arrest warrants related to the Feb. 24 incident. She was charged with aggravated assault on a police officer, attempting to elude and gross negligent driving.
At 8:30 p.m. on Feb. 24, Sgt. Matthew Tarricone pulled Birk over for “minor motor vehicle infractions,” police said. She initially stopped on the side of Interstate 91 but then drove away, dragging Tarricone on the highway at speeds of 20 mph “and increasing.”
Police said Birk didn’t stop for troopers’ blue lights and sirens and fled, weaving through traffic and passing other vehicles at “excessive” speeds.
She drove from I-91 to Route 122 and then onto Route 114. Troopers lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Burke Village as she continued driving north, the release stated.
Police said Tarricone suffered scrapes and bruises and declined medical attention. Judge Justin Jiron of Caledonia County Superior Court issued a warrant for Birk’s arrest.
— Auditi Guha
