Caledonia County Courthouse on Main Street in St. Johnsbury.
HARDWICK – Promise Kempton, arrested on May 18 at a residence on Dutton Road in Hardwick, was charged in Caledonia Superior Court on May 20 with misdemeanor domestic assault and simple assault with fluids. Those charges were dismissed by State’s Attorney Jessica Zaleski.
Kempton was facing a fine of up to $6,000 and could have been sentenced to over two years in prison had she been convicted of the alleged crimes.
Hardwick police responded to a call at the Dutton Road address on May 18 following a report of domestic assault, after which Kempton was arrested. They were assisted by the Morrisville Police Department and the Lamoille County Sheriff’s Department.
The alleged victim reportedly told police he was hit 30 or 40 times.
Police charged Kempton with two counts of Domestic Assault, two counts of Assault on Law Enforcement with bodily fluids, Assault on Law Enforcement, Cruelty to Child and committing a crime in the presence of a child.
Police allege Kempton spit on Lamoille County Deputy Sheriff Brenden Marrier.
Hardwick Police Officer Steven Mitchell wrote, “As I’m placing the handcuffs on Kempton, she spits on (Lamoille County) Deputy Marrier, hitting him in the face . . . Kempton was placed in handcuffs . . . As we were walking out to the cruiser she spits on Marrier again.”
Kempton then had a spit-hood placed over her head. She was also accused of threatening officers, kicking the window of the police cruiser and kicking Hardwick’s Officer Mitchell in the shin.
Paul Fixx is editor of The Hardwick Gazette and lives in Hardwick.
