Initially released, driver ticketed in May incident

BARRE, Vt. -- Burlington police have issued tickets for a May traffic incident in Barre in which a speeding driver and four passengers, all from out of state, were stopped, ordered out of their car at gunpoint, handcuffed, and then released without any charges.

None of the five police agencies that responded to the incident acknowledged the case as theirs until the past few days.

On Wednesday, Burlington Detective Ken Tisdel issued driver James King, 29, of New York three tickets -- two for speeding and one for driving with a suspended license -- with fines totaling $958.

''There was some initial confusion relating to radio communication, jurisdiction, and responsibility for the case," Burlington Police Chief Thomas Tremblay said in a written statement.

Tisdel was returning to Burlington from a search in Hartford in an unmarked car when he noticed a speeding car on Interstate 89 near Randolph. He followed the car toward Barre, reaching speeds of 105 miles per hour.

Tisdel radioed for help when the car exited the interstate onto Vermont Route 62 at Berlin, heading toward Barre. A Washington County sheriff helped pull over the car. The deputy drew his gun, ordered the occupants out of the car, handcuffed them, and had them sit on the ground.

Vermont State Police and Barre and Berlin police departments showed up and briefly assisted in the stop.

Police now contend that King was driving dangerously and that he was violating his parole at the time of the May 26 incident.

King was on parole in New York for possession of narcotics with intent to sell, according to police.

A spokeswoman with the New York State Department of Parole in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., said King is in Ulster County Jail awaiting a hearing tomorrow.