Former Vermont State Trooper cited for animal cruelty

SPRINGFIELD, Vt. (NEWS10) – A former trooper with the Vermont State Police, Zachary Gauthier, 31, of Weathersfield, was cited Tuesday morning on suspicion of animal cruelty and perjury. In response to an affidavit of possible trigger, in December 2021, Gauthier punched his household’s canine and broke a knuckle on his hand in doing so.

Whereas beneath oath throughout a February 24, 2022, court docket listening to in an unrelated continuing, police say Gauthier lied about struggling the harm to his hand. Investigators additionally decided he lied whereas beneath oath in regards to the presence of alcohol in a automotive he was driving that crashed on October 30, 2021.

Moreover, the Springfield Police Division on Tuesday cited Gauthier on a cost of violating an abuse prevention order. Following session by the Vermont State Police with the Washington County State’s Legal professional’s Workplace, Gauthier was cited to look at 12:30 p.m. on April 19 within the Legal Division of Vermont Superior Court docket in White River Junction. The case was dealt with by a detective sergeant assigned to State Police headquarters with assist from the Legal professional’s Workplace, to make sure investigators had been from outdoors the world the place Gauthier used to work.

Gauthier had been assigned as a detective trooper on the Westminster Barracks. He was positioned on paid aid from responsibility earlier this 12 months and resigned the week of April 11.

The Vermont State Police is unable to remark additional on the case. The affidavit of possible trigger will probably be filed with the court docket and made public following Gauthier’s arraignment.