Vermont man who flattened police cruisers with tractor is folk hero to some

The Republican ^

[matt04]

He fought the law, and the law got crushed.

The man who drove a tractor over several police vehicles in northern Vermont last week is on the verge of becoming a modern-day folk hero to some, with various online sites cropping up to canonize and defend the "simple farmer" from Newport, Vt.

Roger Pion, 34, was so angry about his arrest last month on marijuana and other charges, he took the law into his own hands, so to speak, and flattened 6 police cruisers and a van from the ">Orleans County Sheriff's Department.

The Aug. 2 incident got Pion arrested. But it also got the farmer some big-time media exposure as his story went national, sparking everything from T-shirts to ballads to Internet sites dedicated to "freeing" him. Since the episode, various websites have declared Pion a patriot and a saint — even a sainted patriot. A Facebook page, "Roger Pion, the magnificent," describes him as a hardworking farmer and father from a "down-to-earth family" that now needs help footing his legal bill.

Friends and family claim Pion has been subjected to abuse and harassment from law enforcement officials, while law enforcement officials claim Pion has a documented history of being "uncooperative and aggressive" during past police encounters, the Burlington Free Press reports.

[matt04]

If he thinks they weren't fair or what not to him before...

[youngidiot]

This guy isn’t a hero. He’s a damned thug that destroyed property.

[Wolfie]

Yep. If he was protesting taxes he’d be a hero. Personal freedom? Not so much.

[null and void]

On the bright, side his fellow inmates will provide some protection.

On the other bright side, now that they have to walk to the donut shop, some of the local constabulary may get in better shape...

[Altariel]

So did the colonial patriots who flung tea into the harbor at Boston.

I’m sure the Tories of their day looked down on them for destruction of property.

A government employee should fear the wrath of the citizenry if he wrongs the citizenry, not the other way around.

[Ford4000]

Anybody have picture of the tractor? Inquiring minds want to know.

[huldah1776]

daily marijuana use side effects includes psychotic episodes. Sounds about right.

[null and void]

Nothing Crushes Like A Deer™?

[dragnet2]

[Charles Martel]

Yeah, I can see how that could do a $250K in damage real quick. Bet it's the king of the impound yard.

[Altariel]

For those unfamiliar with this case:

• Man angry about arrest used tractor like monster truck to crush 7 cop vehicles

  Friday, August 03, 2012 10:01:16 AM · by Cowman · 30 replies

  yahoo news ^ | 03Aug2012 | Dave Gram

  MONTPELIER, Vt. - Working in a stout former bank building with windows closed and air conditioners humming, Orleans County sheriff's deputies didn't know what was happening in their parking lot until a neighbour called 911. A man on a big farm tractor, angry about his recent arrest for resisting arrest and marijuana possession, was rolling across their vehicles — five marked cruisers, one unmarked car and a transport van. By the time they ran outside, the tractor was down the driveway and out onto the road. With their vehicles crushed, "We had nothing to pursue him with," said Chief Deputy...

• Vt. man crushes police cars with family tractor

  Friday, August 03, 2012 8:47:27 AM · by SoFloFreeper · 20 replies

  NECN ^ | 8/3/12 | Justin Michaels

  A Vermont man is accused of single-handedly leaving a path of destruction at one police station... Police say 34-year-old Roger Pion of Newport, Vt. took his family's farm tractor and ran over the cars just after lunchtime Thursday. Apparently, Pion was none-too happy about being arrested for resisting arrest after being caught with marijuana.

• Vermont farmer crushed cop cars with tractor, police say

  Friday, August 03, 2012 7:37:26 AM · by cotton1706 · 62 replies

  http://www.nola.com/crime/index.ssf/2012/08/vermont_farmer_crushed_cop_car.html ^ | 8/2/12 | Dave Gram

  Working in a stout former bank building with windows closed and air conditioners humming, Orleans County, Vt., sheriff's deputies didn't know what was happening in their parking lot until a neighbor called 911. A man on a big farm tractor, angry about his recent arrest for resisting arrest and marijuana possession, was rolling across their vehicles -- five marked cruisers, one unmarked car and a transport van. By the time they ran outside, the tractor was down the driveway and out onto the road. Thursday afternoon's incident ended when city police in Newport, the county seat of the northern Vermont...

[Nifster]

some folks love law breaking things.....enough in 2008 to elect one President

[Nifster]

personal freedom requires personal responsibility. If he wanted to break the pot laws then he should be ready to suffer the consequences. If he wanted to freely grow then I guess he should have moved to California

[tm61]

good thing there is no bayonet lug on the front of that think or it would really be a dangerous weapon

[tm61]

good thing there is no bayonet lug on the front of that think or it would really be a dangerous weapon

[andyk]

Arbitrary criminal laws that don’t protect individual rights are awesome!

[Nifster]

you distort the founders and their efforts to be treated as British citizens by their king. Go back and study our history.... your depiction is not quite accurate

[andyk]

Kudos.

[stephenjohnbanker]

This doper just threw away his freedom, his farm, and financially wiped out his wife and kids.....some hero!

[annieokie]

TANK (the movie).

Don't worry, Obama now can send that town some of his free GMs, you know the ones that GM will take back, NO MATTER WHAT, perpetually on the govenment dole.