Poultney

I was included in an email conversation this week about an incident that occurred on the lower Poultney on Saturday, March 19. A landowner behaved in a threatening manner (involving a firearm) towards two boaters who were running the stretch. One of them, Jake Roberts, subsequently replied in that conversation (on March 24) with the following account of what happened:

'I was with the group that had the altercation. We were hiking laps of the first rapid on the lower Poultney below the water line. The land owner of what we believe to be 32 Golf Course Road on the New York side got our attention by firing a shot that seemed to be in our direction. After looking around for a moment he fired another round and when we saw him it looked as though he was aiming his weapon in our direction. I quickly ran down the rapid and everyone else got in their boats and we paddled away. He followed us a short way down the river continuing to wave his gun around yelling at us. After the run I called the state police dispatcher in the area at this number: 518-747-4623. I filed a report and spoke to an officer who followed up with the land owner. I have not heard anything back from them but I do plan to follow up with the police again when I get the opportunity.'