Police continued to search for a wanted Morrisville man Saturday morning after obtaining an arrest warrant against him for charges including attempted murder and kidnapping.
The search for Henry Lovell, 24, started Thursday night after police said he injured a Morristown Police Department officer in a gunfight in Morrisville.
In a press release overnight, Vermont State Police identified the officer as Brian Tomlinson, who joined the department in February 2021.
After responding to reports of a domestic disturbance near Upper Main and Pleasant streets Thursday night, Tomlinson was “struck by pellets fired from Lovell’s shotgun but did not sustain any penetrative injuries,” police wrote.
Police said Tomlinson returned fire and that it was unclear whether Lovell was struck. Tomlinson recognized Lovell from prior interactions, they said.
Tomlinson was treated at Copley Hospital in Morrisville and had been released by Friday morning. He has been placed on paid administrative leave, police said, which is standard procedure after a shooting involving an officer.
According to state police, a judge signed off on the warrant late Friday night for eight charges: one count each of attempted murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, kidnapping, first-degree aggravated domestic assault, criminal threatening and violation of conditions of release; and two counts of first-degree unlawful restraint.
A large police presence was visible on Friday in the Pleasant Street neighborhood. Police have also focused on the Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, “especially west of town,” and recreational trails near Cady’s Falls, they said.
In an update Saturday morning, police said the overnight search “focused primarily in and around Morrisville.” They expected the search to actively continue throughout the day.
Police warned the public to continue to use caution in the area of the gunfight and in any potential interactions with Lovell.
“The police have accounted for all firearms Lovell might have had access to,” they wrote Friday night, “but the authorities are continuing to treat the subject as potentially armed and dangerous given the nature of the events that occurred Thursday night and Lovell’s history with law enforcement.”
A distributed photo shows Lovell is white with blond hair. Police said he is 6 feet, 2 inches tall and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing a camouflage-style jacket, dark pants and a red ball cap.
