Burlington, VT - The U.S. Marshal Service, Vermont Violent Offender Task Force (VVOTF), in conjunction with the Vermont State Police, arrested a fugitive wanted by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (Sarasota, FL) for failure to appear.
Melissa Cutchin, 33, was released on $340,000 bond in Sarasota County Florida stemming from several drug related criminal charges, to include, 3 counts - Sale of Cocaine, 1 count - Sale of Heroin and 1 count - Sale of Cocaine. This is the second such arrest of Cutchin in Vermont based on the Florida charges.
In August 2018 the Vermont State Police arrested Cutchin on an outstanding arrest warrant after conducting a motor vehicle stop. Cutchin was arrested and charged with being a Fugitive From Justice and ordered held on $25,000.00 bail. It is believed that after extradition to Florida, Cutchin posted bail in Florida and fled back to Vermont. See news article of the arrest:
Cutchin failed to appear for a scheduled court date on Feb. 22, 2019 and a warrant was swiftly issued on Feb. 26, 2019 by the County Court of Sarasota County Florida.
The U.S. Marshals Service was tasked with attempting to locate Cutchin on March 4, 2019. Based on Cutchin’S historical ties to Vermont and other factors, the fugitive investigation quickly focused on Vermont. Investigators revealed that Cutchin fled Florida and was staying in the Putney, Vermont area.
On April 5, 2019 the investigation shifted to the downtown area of Brattleboro, Vermont, specially, an address on the lower block of Main Street. As law enforcement closed in on Cutchin’S location, Cutchin fled on foot out a window. Cutchin attempted to elude law enforcement as she jumped from roof top to roof top, between several high-rise buildings. Cutchin was quickly cornered and taken into custody without further incident.
Cutchin was transported to the Vermont State Police Barracks, in Westminster Vermont, where she was charged in the State of Vermont as a Fugitive from Justice.
The arrest of Cutchin was a collaboration of investigative efforts put forth by the VVOTF, the Vermont State Police and the Brattleboro Police.
Any further inquiries regarding this matter should be directed to the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office, Sarasota Florida.
