Police: South Royalton man tried to break into Barnard home carrying multiple knives

BARNARD — A 38-year-old South Royalton man, who was out on bail, was charged with attempting to break into a Barnard home while carrying multiple knives, according to court documents.

Jasper Digby pleaded not guilty to counts of unlawful mischief and violating the conditions of his release during his arraignment in Windsor Superior Court on Tuesday. Prior to the hearing, he was also charged with burglary, but Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Mann reviewed the charge and found no cause, since Digby did not actually enter the home, according to court documents.

The judge released Digby on conditions that he not possess any dangerous weapons, stay at least 300 feet away from the Barnard home, and avoid contact with a witness in the case, according to his case summary.

The charges stem from an incident around 5:30 p.m. Monday, when a neighbor saw Digby wearing camouflage and a backpack trying to get into the front door of a home on Broad Brook Road, according to an affidavit written by Vermont State Police Trooper Sean Collins. When police went to the area they found Digby carrying a knife and a “metal tool with a point on it,” and took him into custody.

Police said they also found a broken deadbolt lying next to the front door of the home. When they searched Digby, they found two additional knives and weapon that looked like a sword or bayonet, the affidavit said.

Digby was out on bail at the time after he was charged in October with operating a car without the owner’s consent and giving false information to police, according to court documents.