CHESTER, Vt. (AP) – A 38-year-old Chester man was hospitalized under guard on Monday following a weekend standoff in which police say he stabbed his ex-wife and held his daughter hostage for more than 11/2 hours.

Police Chief Rick Cloud said Brian Pelletier was at the Springfield Hospital and under the guard of officers from the state Department of Corrections. The chief said Pelletier had overdosed on prescription medications.

Cloud said Monday it was unknown when Pelletier would be well enough to be arraigned on charges of attempted murder, first-degree domestic assault, burglary and kidnapping. He was being held without bail on a probation violation.

A Chester police news release said the department received a call at midday Saturday from someone reporting a domestic disturbance at Pelletier’s home on Vermont Route 103. The release described the incident as follows:

When the first officer arrived at Pelletier’s home, Pelletier was outside. He held a knife to his younger daughter’s throat and held his older daughter by the hand. Pelletier then went into the house with the girls and a standoff began.

Police found Pelletier’s ex-wife, whom they would not identify, outside with a stab wound. She was hospitalized and underwent surgery Saturday night, but Cloud had no word on her condition Monday.

Officers from the Springfield and Ludlow police departments and the Vermont State Police converged on the scene, along with ambulance crews from Chester and Ludlow. Firefighters from Chester and Cavendish closed off Route 103.

A state police hostage negotiator called Pelletier by phone and secured the release of the older daughter. Pelletier began escalating his threats against the younger daughter, whom he still held.

Police decided the risk of harm to the child was great. They rushed Pelletier, rescued the girl and took her father into custody.

Police said both Pelletier and an officer suffered minor injuries during the rescue.

AP-ES-05-17-04 0906EDT

Copy the Story Link