12 V.S.A. § 3962: When a person to be served is not an officer

In cases of imprisonment by a person not an officer of the State or of the courts of the United States, the writ shall be directed to a sheriff or his or her deputy, commanding him or her to take and have the person imprisoned before the court or magistrate granting the writ, immediately after the receipt thereof, and summon the person by whom such prisoner is restrained to appear before such court or magistrate and show the cause for taking and detaining such prisoner.