St. Johnsbury police officer charged with aggravated assault, incident following illegal parking stop

Vermont State Police on Wednesday charged St. Johnsbury Police Sergeant George Johnson with aggravated assault after an investigation revealed that Johnson allegedly used excessive force against a 35-year-old man he initially stopped for running a red light.

Johnson, 44, of Lunenburg, is due to appear in Caledonia County Criminal Court on Sept. 9 on a charge of assault. He has been on paid administrative leave since May 16, according to the Caledonian Record.

St. Johnsbury Police Chief Joel Pierce and City Manager Chad Whitehead did not respond to requests for comment.

The charges stem from an incident on May 10, when Johnson stopped John Stelzl after he crossed the street without using a crosswalk. In an affidavit filed in support of the charges against Stelzl, Johnson said Stelzl was in an area where people were known to use drugs. Johnson got out of his patrol car and chased Stelzl, who ran away, according to the affidavit.

Johnson caught up to Stelzl and during the physical altercation that ensued, he used pepper spray and a Taser, hitting Stelzl in the back of the head and back, Johnson said in his affidavit. Johnson also claimed that at some point during the struggle, Stelzl snatched the Taser from him and hit Johnson in the leg with it, the affidavit said.

Stelzl was taken to the hospital and treated for “significant” injuries he sustained in the incident, according to state police.

Stelzl was initially charged with simple assault and disturbing the peace, but three days after the indictment, Caledonia County Prosecutor Jessica Zaleski dropped the charges after reviewing body camera footage of the altercation. Zaleski raised concerns about the use of force to St. Johnsbury Police Chief Pierce, who referred the incident to state police for an independent investigation.

According to a state police press release, the investigation revealed that Johnson did not have sufficient cause to stop Stelzl and that he used excessive force during the altercation.

Zaleski has recused himself from the case and asked Grand Isle County Attorney Doug DiSabito to review it. An affidavit with further details will be filed with the court after Johnson's arraignment in September.

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