NORTH HERO, Vt. (WCAX) — Arguments continued Tuesday in the retrial of Franklin County Sheriff John Grismore, who is back in court for allegedly assaulting a shackled suspect.
Grismore was charged with simple assault for kicking a shackled inmate Jeremey Burrows in 2022, when he was a captain with the department. The state calls it a case of simple assault, pointing to the fact that Grismore was not in uniform and could have used other means of getting Burrows to comply.
Grismore has always maintained that he did nothing wrong and that he was helping less experienced officers get a situation under control.
In court Tuesday, jurors heard from one of the members of the sheriff’s department who was there at the time. They also heard from Burrows, who was asked by Grand Isle State’s Attorney Doug Disabito asked if Grismore identified himself as a law enforcement officer.
“It was like a blur, but I knew I was in police custody even though I was drunk,” Burrows testified.
The defense tried to raise questions about Burrow’s memory and motivation, pointing out he was so intoxicated he doesn’t remember the kick or his behavior that day.
The trial continues Wednesday with more witnesses from the state.
ANALYSIS: GRISMORE CASE A PRIORITY FOR PROSECUTORS
Darren Perron spoke with Robert Sand, a former Vermont prosecutor and professor at Vermont Law & Graduate School about why this misdemeanor case has garnered so much attention.