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  4. Coordinated Effort by Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers in Vermont leads to Arrest of Wanted Arsonist

Coordinated Effort by Border Patrol Agents and CBP Officers in Vermont leads to Arrest of Wanted Arsonist

Release Date
Mon, 09/24/2018

HIGHGATE SPRINGS, Vt. – The combined efforts of U.S. Border Patrol agents and U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Vermont resulted in the capture of a suspected arsonist from Massachusetts yesterday.

Highgate Springs port of entry
Highgate Springs Port of Entry

At approximately 2 p.m. on Sunday, Swanton Station Border Patrol agents responded to the Duty Free Americas (DFA) shop in Highgate Springs, Vt. following a report of a suspicious male on the property.  When agents arrived they found a vehicle parked near the woods on the DFA property and saw an individual exiting the woods speaking incoherently.  When agents identified themselves and started to approach the suspect, he quickly got into his vehicle, discarded several items and sped off.

The suspect, identified as Phillip Jordan, a 58-year-old, U.S. citizen, fled northbound onto Interstate 89 toward the Highgate Springs Port of Entry.  Border Patrol agents alerted the port and CBP officers conducting routine outbound inspections were immediately able to stop the vehicle and place Jordan in custody.  Further investigation revealed a warrant for Jordan’s arrest from the Pittsfield Police Department on charges of arson.  Border Patrol agents later retrieved the items discarded from the vehicle including a black powder revolver and a propane torch. 

“This arrest is a tremendous example of why the coordinated work of our Border Patrol agents and CBP officers along the northern border is so important,” said Swanton Station Patrol Agent in Charge Matthew Sherman.

“I commend the CBP officers and Border Patrol agents involved for their quick response and collaborative effort to ensure this dangerous individual was not able to evade the law,” said St. Albans, Vermont Area Port Director Greg Starr.

Jordan was turned over to the Vermont State Police to begin the extradition process back to Massachusetts.

The Swanton Sector is responsible for securing the land border between ports of entry in Vermont, New Hampshire and northeastern New York. The coordination with assistance of citizens is invaluable to the Border Patrol's border security mission and we welcome community members' help to keep our nation’s borders safe. Please report suspicious activity at 1-800-689-3362.

For more on Customs and Border Protection’s mission at our nation’s ports of entry with CBP officers and along U.S. borders with Border Patrol agents, please visit the Border Security section of the CBP website.

Last Modified: Feb 03, 2021