# Father Uses Excavator to Threaten Vermont State Troopers Arresting His Son — Dramatic Bodycam Shows Chaos Before Police Take Him Down
**VERMONT, UNITED STATES — What began as an attempt to arrest a 24-year-old man escalated into a dangerous confrontation when his father allegedly used a massive excavator to threaten state troopers.**
Vermont State Police arrived at the Tolman family property to arrest Brandon Tolman following allegations stemming from a separate incident two days earlier.
But the arrest would be anything but routine.
As troopers attempted to place Brandon in handcuffs, his parents became involved in an increasingly heated confrontation.
His mother protested the arrest.
His father, Wayne Tolman, confronted officers while operating an excavator.
Within moments, the situation became so dangerous that troopers were forced to respond to a threat involving heavy machinery capable of causing serious injury or death.
The newly presented body-camera footage captures the confrontation, repeated police commands, the family’s resistance and the aftermath.
According to the video’s account of court records, Wayne eventually pleaded guilty to charges involving aggravated assault on law enforcement officers with a deadly weapon.
His sentence, however, would later become another controversial part of the story.
## PART 1 — Police Arrive to Arrest Brandon Tolman
The incident began when Vermont State Police troopers arrived at a residence to arrest 24-year-old Brandon Tolman.
According to the video’s narration, Brandon was accused of assaulting someone inside their home while intoxicated and threatening to kill that person two days earlier.
The allegations prompted law enforcement to seek his arrest.
Body-camera footage shows troopers approaching Brandon and confirming his identity.
They informed him that he was being placed under arrest.
Officers instructed him to put his hands behind his back.
Brandon questioned the arrest and did not immediately comply with their commands.
The situation quickly became confrontational.
Family members began protesting the officers’ actions.
Troopers repeatedly explained that Brandon needed to accompany them to the barracks.
His parents insisted that they wanted more time and challenged the officers’ authority.
What could have been a straightforward arrest was rapidly turning into a confrontation involving multiple people.
Then the situation escalated dramatically.
Wayne Tolman, Brandon’s father, was operating an excavator near the officers.
Troopers shouted at him to stop.
They warned him that he could be arrested.
The heavy machine created an immediate danger.
An excavator can move substantial amounts of material and has the capacity to cause catastrophic injuries if used against people.
The troopers were now dealing with an armed-equipment threat while attempting to control Brandon’s arrest.
The confrontation had reached a critical point.
## PART 2 — Father Confronts Troopers With an Excavator as Family Interferes
The footage shows troopers repeatedly ordering Wayne to stop operating the excavator.
The officers were clearly concerned about the machine’s movements and the danger it posed.
Wayne continued arguing with law enforcement.
At one point, officers accused him of threatening to run them over.
He disputed their interpretation of his actions.
The situation remained tense as troopers attempted to secure the machine and place Wayne under arrest.
Meanwhile, Brandon’s mother, Amy Tolman, continued challenging the officers.
She demanded explanations and questioned whether they had the legal authority to arrest her son.
Troopers repeatedly told her that Brandon had to accompany them.
They warned that interfering with the arrest could result in additional charges.
Amy insisted she was trying to help her son.
But officers maintained that her actions were obstructing their work.
The body-camera footage captures several overlapping confrontations.
Brandon was being detained.
Wayne was refusing to cooperate with commands around the excavator.
Amy was protesting the arrests and repeatedly approaching officers.
Troopers attempted to manage all three situations while keeping the scene under control.
Eventually, officers moved to secure Wayne.
They instructed him to get away from the excavator and put his hands behind his back.
The confrontation continued as Wayne resisted their instructions.
Troopers worked together to handcuff him and secure the machine.
During the exchange, Wayne made statements about his experience operating excavators.
Officers continued emphasizing that he had endangered them.
The machinery was eventually shut down.
Wayne was detained.
With the immediate danger under control, troopers began processing the arrests.
The confrontation had ended without a fatality, but the legal consequences were only beginning.
## PART 3 — Guilty Plea, 90-Day Jail Sentence and a Controversial Court Outcome
After the confrontation, Vermont State Police pursued charges against multiple members of the Tolman family.
According to the video’s account, Wayne Tolman, then 52, was initially charged with two counts of felony aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon, impeding a public officer, resisting arrest and reckless endangerment.
Wayne initially pleaded not guilty.
He later entered a plea agreement.
The video states that he pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer with a deadly weapon and impeding a public officer.
The remaining charges were dismissed as part of the agreement.
### The Sentence That Sparked Controversy
Wayne was sentenced to 90 days in jail.
However, according to the video, credit for time already served meant he was released within a week of sentencing in September 2022.
He was also placed on probation for four years and ordered to complete 40 hours of community service.
One particularly unusual condition concerned the excavator.
The video reports that Wayne was prohibited from operating an excavator unless supervised by someone approved by his probation officer.
That supervisor could not be his son Brandon.
The video’s narrator says the two troopers involved believed the sentence was too lenient given the danger they had faced.
The troopers also reportedly described lasting emotional effects from the incident.
### What Happened to Brandon Tolman?
Brandon faced separate criminal charges arising from the alleged earlier assault.
According to the video, those charges included felony aggravated assault, burglary into an occupied dwelling, simple assault, unlawful mischief and resisting arrest.
He pleaded not guilty.
The video’s narration states that he was released on bond into his mother’s custody.
It also reports that his next hearing was scheduled for January 19, 2027.
Because that hearing is in the future, the final outcome of his case cannot be determined from the supplied transcript.
Brandon remains presumed innocent of the pending allegations unless proven guilty in court.
### What Happened to Amy Tolman?
Brandon’s mother, Amy Tolman, then 48, was charged with impeding a public officer.
The video’s account indicates that her case remained ongoing.
A criminal charge is an allegation, not a conviction.
Amy is presumed innocent unless and until the prosecution establishes guilt through the legal process.
### Could an Excavator Be Considered a Deadly Weapon?
A deadly weapon does not necessarily have to be a firearm or knife.
Depending on the law and the manner in which an object is used, heavy machinery can potentially qualify as a deadly weapon.
An excavator has tremendous weight and mechanical force.
If deliberately directed toward a person, it can create a substantial risk of serious injury or death.
In Wayne’s case, the video reports that he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault offenses involving a deadly weapon.
### Why the Police Response Matters
Troopers were attempting to execute an arrest when they encountered resistance from multiple family members.
The involvement of heavy machinery substantially increased the danger.
Officers needed to maintain control of the suspect while preventing the excavator from injuring anyone.
The footage also illustrates the challenges of managing relatives who attempt to intervene during an arrest.
Even when family members believe they are protecting someone, interfering with officers carrying out lawful duties can result in criminal consequences.
Whether particular police actions were lawful depends on the circumstances and applicable law.
### A Case That Raised Questions About Sentencing
The reported outcome of Wayne’s case became controversial because of the contrast between the danger described in the footage and the amount of time he ultimately spent in custody after sentencing.
However, plea agreements and sentencing decisions involve numerous legal considerations.
A short period of additional incarceration does not necessarily mean the original charges were dismissed without consequences.
Wayne’s reported sentence also included probation, community service and restrictions on operating heavy equipment.
### Final Outcome
An attempt to arrest Brandon Tolman at his family’s Vermont property escalated into a dangerous confrontation involving his father and an excavator.
Troopers eventually detained Brandon and Wayne.
Amy also faced a criminal charge related to the incident.
Wayne later pleaded guilty and received a 90-day jail sentence, probation and additional conditions.
The cases involving Brandon and Amy were described as unresolved in the supplied video.
The body-camera footage captures an extraordinary confrontation in which a family dispute over an arrest escalated into a serious threat to law enforcement officers.
**A father tried to intervene in his son’s arrest — and ended up facing criminal charges himself.**
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## Legal Disclaimer
This article is based on the supplied body-camera transcript and its accompanying narration. The reported charges, plea agreement, sentencing details and future hearing date have not been independently verified against official court records.
Pending criminal charges are allegations. Individuals whose cases remain unresolved are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
The legal discussion is for general informational purposes and does not constitute legal advice.
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