A man from New Hampshire, Douglas Reynolds, 37, has been charged by a federal grand jury in Vermont with using a firearm to assault a federal officer and discharging the firearm during the event. The announcement came from the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont on April 3, 2025. Reynolds, currently in custody, was previously facing other firearm-related charges which are still pending.
The incident in question occurred on October 24, 2024, following a high-speed car chase initiated in New Hampshire that concluded near Ryegate, Vermont. The chase, during which speeds reached 100 miles per hour or more, ended when Reynolds fired a shot from his car, prompting law enforcement to return fire and subsequently arrest him.
As the legal process unfolds, Reynolds has yet to be arraigned on this latest indictment. It's important to note that an indictment represents allegations, and Reynolds is regarded as innocent until proven otherwise. Should Reynolds be convicted, he could face a sentence ranging from a mandatory minimum of 10 years to life imprisonment, with the exact sentencing to be influenced by the District Court and guided by United States Sentencing Guidelines and statutory sentencing factors.
Acting United States Attorney Michael P. Drescher acknowledged the roles of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the United States Marshals Service, and the Vermont State Police in the investigation. The prosecution is being led by Assistant United States Attorney Joshua L. Banker, while Reynolds’s legal defense is handled by Assistant Federal Public Defender Carmen Brooks.
This case falls under the nationwide initiative, Operation Take Back America, aiming to combat illegal immigration, eliminate drug cartels and transnational criminal organizations, and safeguard communities from violent crime. It is also part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, which unites law enforcement levels with the communities to curb violent crime and gun violence. Launched on May 26, 2021, the initiative focuses on community trust, strategic enforcement priorities, and violence prevention.
