by MIKE DONOGHUE, InDepthNH.org
March 11, 2026

SOUTH BURLINGTON –  A man wanted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement crashed into law enforcement vehicles and fled the scene in South Burlington Wednesday morning, officials said.

Investigators have a home at 337 Dorset St. surrounded and a search warrant is reportedly being sought from a federal judge to enter the residence and seize the wanted suspect this afternoon, officials said.

The U.S. Attorney's Office in Vermont declined comment due to the active ongoing criminal investigation.

Supporters of Migrant Justice and others were at the scene yelling at ICE agents and offering support for the wanted man.

The South Burlington Emergency Dispatch Center received a 911 report of a motor vehicle accident near 345 Dorset St. involving multiple vehicles about 7:38 a.m., police said.

Police Chief William Breault said city officers responded to the area and located an unoccupied car with extensive damage in the northbound travel lane of Dorset Street near Brookwood Drive.

Police found a second damaged vehicle in the southbound lane near 435 Dorset St., according to Breault, who previously served with Dover, N.H. Police for 27 years including seven as chief until last fall.

 Two other damaged vehicles were found in the parking lot of the Dorset Commons apartment complex, across from the Tuttle Middle School, the chief said.

Breault said a preliminary investigation determined that federal agents with ICE attempted to apprehend an individual, believed to be associated with the area of 345 Dorset St., when the suspect fled in a vehicle.

ICE agents tried to box in the vehicle in the parking lot of 435 Dorset St. The vehicle again fled, resulting in damage to several ICE vehicles. As the wanted car fled, it collided with a vehicle traveling south. The operator and sole occupant of that vehicle was uninjured, the chief said.

The individual that ICE was seeking to detain abandoned his vehicle in the northbound lane of Dorset Street and fled on foot.

South Burlington Police were never made aware of the immigration enforcement activity due to a state of Vermont policy that mandates no cooperation with ICE, officials said.

Breault said police only became aware as a result of the car crash on Dorset Street, which is a four-lane divided highway.

Police later learned from ICE officials the federal agents had responded to the area of 345 Dorset St. seeking to locate and detain a man related on a federal administrative warrant related to the individual’s immigration status.

Federal agents believe the wanted individual returned to an apartment on Dorset Street, and agents surrounded the building while awaiting the approval of a federal criminal warrant.

It was unknown how many people were in the residence, but a child, believed to be about 3 years-old, was let out, Deputy Police Chief Sean Briscoe said at the scene.

Breault said ICE requested assistance from the South Burlington Police due to a crowd of individuals protesting in the area.

South Burlington officers responded and remained in the area with the purpose of ensuring the safety of federal law enforcement as well as the unimpeded ability for individuals to protest, the chief said.

By 1 p.m. South Burlington Police said traffic headed south was closed near the University Mall.  Northbound traffic was being re-routed on San Remo Drive. 

Breault said police did not assist federal agents with the enforcement of the initial federal immigration violation.

This article first appeared on InDepthNH.org and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.