By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — A Barton, Vermont, man, who was a fugitive of justice out of New Hampshire for felony methamphetamine charges carrying a seven-and-a-half to 15-year sentence, was apprehended by the Springfield Police Department last month.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Derrill Bunker, 40, of Barton, was arrested on Nov. 30 after police were notified that he was in Springfield.
Bunker had allegedly been staying at a residence on Valley Street, but police found him walking the area of 15 Spring Street. Police found out that he could be near Springfield Plaza, which officers subsequently checked. Officers identified Bunker based off mug shots and was detained pending confirmation of a warrant for an extraditable arrest out of New Hampshire.
Springfield Police quickly confirmed the warrant, and Bunker was taken into custody without incident. Police cuffed Bunker with a double lock for safety and taken to the Springfield Police Department to be processed.
The arresting officer reviewed Bunker’s warrant paperwork and found that the arrest warrant was for his non-appearance in court for a final pretrial conference on Jan. 22, 2024.
“I found that the underlying charge was Controlled Drug Act; Acts Prohibited, RSA 318-B: 2,I, a Class A Felony in the State of New Hampshire punishable by 7 1/2 to 15 years,” the report by Officer William Singleton III stated.
He continued, “In the indictment, dated 03/08/2021, it states on or about 07/31/2020, Bunker knowingly possessed or had in his control the controlled drug, methamphetamine. It states, ‘Defendant was previously convicted on October 17, 2018, of possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine in the court of common pleas of Monroe County, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.’”
Judge Heather Gray authorized a flash cite for Dec. 2 and she set bail for $10,000 cash or surety. Bunker appeared in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, Windsor Unit, to answer to the charge of fugitive from justice. He was lodged at the Southern State Correctional Facility in lieu of cash or surety bail.
