Man with 21 Open Cases Arrested After Fleeing Police and Hiding in St Johnsbury Apartment Building

A man freed from jail last week to get to a hospital appointment reportedly resisted arrest downtown on Tuesday, leading police on a foot chase in the village that ended in the same Portland Street apartment building where accused cop-shooter Scott Mason had been found back in December. Ben Heath tried to make 251 Portland St. his hiding place before authorities took him into custody about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday.  Police wanted him for failing to abide by the conditions of release ordered last week when he was allowed to leave jail. Homeless, with 21 open criminal dockets, Heath had been jailed because he had reportedly failed to adhere to a curfew order. Put in jail on Monday, May 5, Heath was allowed to go free by Judge Michael Kainen two days later. The judge granted the release based on Heath’s assertion that he had a medical appointment at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center. It was further ordered that Heath must call the court daily to share the location where he would stay each night. Heath failed to communicate his curfew location and a warrant for his arrest was issued. They found Heath in a building hiding beneath mattresses. He was taken to the police department, and from there, he was transported to the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility. He is expected to appear before Judge Kainen today.