Armed standoff ends with detonations near Northfield

VERNON, Vt. (WWLP) - A series of detonations punctuated the end of a 12-hour armed standoff  that closed a main road and forced some Franklin County residents to stay in their homes all day.

Massachusetts State Police told 22News they were called-in to help shut down route 142 in Northfield while Vermont State Police dealt with an "armed suicidal man" at a Vernon, Vermont apartment house Monday morning.  Trooper Todd Nolan of the State police Media Relations Office told 22News that "Mass State Police did not assist with the raid."

A woman who watched the situation unfold from her house less than a quarter mile away on route 142 in Northfield told 22News  the standoff ended just after 8:30 Monday night, 12 hours after it started.

Allyssa Alger told 22News she heard loudspeaker chatter and dozens of detonations that may have been percussion grenades or tear gas.  She said route 142 had been re-opened, and that the fire department was venting fumes from "Vernon Manor," the converted apartment house at the center of the investigation.

Acting Vernon, Vermont Police Chief Keith Clark told 22News that the Vermont State Police Tactical Support Unit used tear gas to get the man out.  They arrested 42 year old Thaddeus Cross and charged him with reckless endangerment and unlawful restraint.  Chief Clark said Cross refused to allow a woman neighbor to leave after she went over to check on him Monday morning.

Thaddeus Cross will be arraigned Tuesday in Windham Criminal court in Brattleboro.  He's being held on $2500 cash bail