Okay. Can you turn the car off for me? >> Mine and my business not bothering nobody. >> Is this your car? >> No, it is my car. >> Get off the bike. On Wednesday, August 30th, 2023, at around 10:04 a.m. in Burlington, Vermont, officers from the Burlington Police Department encountered a 52-year-old man, Eric Edson, sitting in his car on the 200 block of Interval Avenue. Officers already knew there was an active warrant for his arrest under case number 23BU019653 and that he had previously evaded police. When they approached his vehicle, Edson refused to cooperate and quickly started the engine, attempting to flee. From that moment, the encounter shifted from a routine warrant arrest to a legally justified pursuit where the officers were required to act under the objectively reasonable force standard. Hey buddy. Hi. Can you turn the car off for me? We're just here checking on you. >> I'm fine. >> Okay. Can you turn the car off for me? >> No, I'm fine. Okay. Can you turn the car off for me? >> What? It's just I'm just checking on you. >> I'm fine. I'm fine in my business. I'm not bothering nobody. >> Okay. Well, someone was worried cuz you're kind of slumped over here. >> I'm fine. I promise you I'm fine. I'm not bothering nobody. >> Okay. >> I just want to be left alone right now. >> Okay. Can you turn the car out for me, though? I don't for what? >> Just remember tomorrow. Okay. >> What's the matter? >> I didn't bother nobody. >> Worried about you. >> I'm fine. Promise. >> Okay. >> Is this your car? >> No. >> Okay. Can you turn it off for me? >> It is my car. >> What do you guys want? >> Turn off the car. Turn off the car. >> Turn off the car. Turn off. Do not do not go this route. Turn off the acorn. He's backing out and he's going to take off. Took off toward Riverside, high rate of speed. Let rescue know so uh they don't get hit. Stop right there. Stop. Stop. I said stop right there. 311. He's going over the fence towards North A. Looks like he has a possible in his in his hand. Stop right there. >> 31 coming out onto North A right now. White shirt, bald head. He's headed north on the sidewalk. >> After driving off, Edson successfully evaded the first stop attempt. The pursuit continued, but what followed was completely unexpected. Officers spotted him again later that day. First riding a stolen bicycle and then aboard a sailboat in Apple Bay trying to escape by water. The incident escalated into a multi- agency operation involving the Burlington Police, Vermont State Police, and the US Coast Guard. What began as a simple warrant arrest had now turned into a cross-platform pursuit across land and water, testing the coordination and restraint of all involved officers. Let me walk back toward you. >> Right there. >> STOP RIGHT NOW. POLICE STOP. He's going north. He's going north. 45 east. He's headed north. I don't know if he >> Eric, I need you to stop, man. >> Stop. >> Eric, >> Eric, listen to me, man. >> 45. He's running behind 1170. >> Headed behind. He's going. See him? Got ice. You got ice. Yeah. >> 45. I got eyes on. He's behind the shed between the chain link fence and the shed. Make money. Do we have anyone in the trailer park right now? Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Yeah. Yeah. Go go go. What's that? >> Yeah, thank you. >> He's heading north. >> He's heading north. Sounds like Get off the BIKE on that on a bicycle. No shirt. >> Right there. Right there. That's him. Hey, stop. Burlington PD. Go go go go go. Heat. Heat. Edson was eventually taken into custody several days later. Legally, the officer's actions were grounded in clear authority. an active warrant, flight from arrest, and public safety concerns. Yet, the case also highlights a critical balance between enforcing the law and respecting a suspect's rights. When a person uses vehicles, bicycles, or even boats to evade arrest, every escalation demands careful judgment. This case stands as an example of lawful procedure under pressure, the necessity of detailed documentation and the importance of accountability in every stage of use of force incidents.