Free Press Staff

ST. ALBANS - A homeowner discovered a burglary in progress while he was home last week, and he fired his gun into the front of the suspect's truck as the person fled, St. Albans police said in a news release Monday.

Police have applied for a warrant to arrest Gary J. Campbell, 36, of Swanton in connection with the incident, police said Monday. Police are expecting Campbell will be charged with burglary and reckless endangerment.

Neither Campbell or his 2000 Black Nissan P.U. Truck bearing Vermont registration 236A517 have been located at this time, police said.

Police responded to 2614 Kellogg Road in St. Albans on Wednesday after being called for a reported burglary in progress with at least one gunshot fired.

The homeowner told police that he had heard a noise while he was upstairs in his home that day. When he looked out the window, he saw a lone male suspect loading the homeowner's leaf blower and other items into the back of the suspect's truck, police said.

The resident ran downstairs and grabbed his .410 shotgun. He then took a position in front of the suspect's truck, confronting the suspect when he came out of the garage, police said.

The suspect got into the driver's seat of the idling truck and drove toward the homeowner. The homeowner then fired a round into the front of the truck as the suspect sped away. Chief Gary Taylor said police believe the shot was aimed at the truck's radiator.

"He shot low on purpose," Taylor said of the homeowner.

A green Hitatchi leaf blower and Jonsered chainsaw were stolen in the process, police said.

The homeowner provided police with a license plate number and description of the suspect's truck. The resident said the truck headed in the direction of Lower Newton Road, police stated.

Police encourage those with information about the incident to contact the St. Albans Police Department at 524-2166.

This story was first posted online on July 25, 2016.

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