CRIME & SAFETY

RUTLAND, Vt. (WCAX) - Up and down Route 7 and around Rutland County, signs read “Justice for Harper Rose,” and on Monday, years after her death, that process began. Stacey Vaillancourt faced a judge and a jury as the trial started with opening statements. The trial has been...

Wagswoofs – A 25-year-old man from Brooklyn, Justin Dugger, was arrested for allegedly possessing methamphetamine, following a routine traffic stop in Rutland, Vermont. Dugger is facing several charges for the incident. Vermont State Police reported that Dugger was pulled over around 12:01 a.m. on Wednesday on South Main Street...

This week in Rutland County, Vermont, several incidents occurred that require attention. These incidents include a driver arrested for DUI and drug possession, police seeking two individuals after an incident at a local Walgreens, a Pittsford man charged with assault, a Fair Haven man charged with domestic assault, and two men arrested for stealing shopping carts from a Fair Haven Walgreens.

FAIR HAVEN, VT — Fair Haven Police arrested 21-year-old Lucas McCane, of Queensbury, and 21-year-old Liam Wilson, of Jericho, Vermont following an investigation into thefts at a Walgreens. On November 14, police say McCane and Wilson stole two shopping carts valued at $600. According to police, McCane and Wilson...

SHREWSBURY — A routine motor vehicle stop for a missing inspection sticker escalated into a drug arrest on Wednesday after officers conducted a search with the help of a State Police K-9 Unit. While monitoring traffic at the intersection of Parker Road and Great Road, local law enforcement noticed...

Brandon Police Department (BPD) performed a welfare check on an elderly male on North Railroad Avenue who was said to appear very sick and weak. It was later found that the man had been transported to the hospital the previous day. BPD helped mediate a neighbor dispute on Franklin Street.

The city of Rutland, Vermont, has been beset by a series of criminal incidents this week, each calling for police intervention and casting a shadow over the community's sense of safety. A domestic assault case surfaced involving 28-year-old Jacob Eells, who now faces charges including assault and hindering a victim's access to emergency services. In a separate incident, Harry StCyr, 45, was arrested for an assault and robbery at the Rutland Town Sunoco gas station. These events have sparked concerns over rising domestic violence and public safety issues in the area.

FAIR HAVEN -- The Fair Haven Police Department has arrested 48-year-old Mitchell L. Matteson following a detailed investigation into a theft from a River Street home. Matteson, who had been employed by the homeowner, was taken into custody on September 27 on charges of grand larceny, false pretense, and fraudulent use of a credit card. The investigation was launched when the homeowner reported over $1,100 in unauthorized charges on their debit and credit cards on September 11, along with a significant number of tools missing from their property.

FAIR HAVEN — A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a wanted Bennington man on Nov. 24. Paul J. Redden, 52, was pulled over by Fair Haven Police for speeding on Rt. 22a at 1:20 p.m. A subsequent check revealed that Redden was the subject of an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court.

In a striking display of good fortune, truck driver Sharnjit Singh of Fresno, California, emerged without a scratch from a severe rollover crash in Benson, Vermont. The incident unfolded on November 17, when Singh's 2024 Kenworth T680 skidded off the slick surface of VT RT 22A near Lake Road amidst a rainstorm and overturned. Singh, 29, found his vehicle a total loss as it came to rest 20 feet from the roadway, but thanks to his seatbelt and the truck's advanced safety systems, he avoided injury.

RUTLAND — A burglary was reported at a residence on Pleasant Street on Monday evening, according to the Vermont State Police. Jason Picard, 41, of Pleasant Street, was the victim of a break-in at his home. Authorities were alerted to the incident at approximately 5:58 p.m. The investigation conducted...

After Rutland city residents were prevented from speaking at a contentious town hall at the Paramount Theater Nov. 2 ​​Mayor Mike Doenges is planning to hold a second meeting at the Rutland Recreation Community Center on Nov. 29 for people to ask direct questions about an uptick in crime in the city.

There are signs calling for lawmakers to show strong leadership to support law enforcement efforts across our state. You just have to listen to what was said at the November 2 Rutland City town hall public safety meeting and at the Rutland City board of alderman meeting on November 6. Then take a read of Angelo Lynn’s Addison Independent editorial from October 19, “Upholding Law and Order: A Call for Strong Leadership in Middlebury.”

Stacey Vaillancourt is facing a manslaughter charge in Rutland County for allegedly providing a fatal dose of a sedative found in over-the-counter antihistamines to Harper Rose Briar, a 6-month-old infant in her care. The case has been pending for nearly five years. Read the story on VTDigger here: After long delay, trial to start for ex-child care provider charged in infant’s death .

ADDISON COUNTY — A Vermont State Police trooper was sitting in a cruiser parked on Route 7 near Dog Team Road in New Haven on Monday, Nov. 13, at around a quarter to six p.m. when he saw a sedan speeding northbound on the highway passing other cars and apparently forcing some of them out of their lanes to avoid crashes. The officer pulled over the sedan and cited the driver, identified as 27-year-old Heather Selleck of Brandon, for negligent driving.

In reference to the letter by Lisa Peluso, “Why I think that publishing the police log is harmful to our community,” I agree with this, especially #7. My grandson was charged with cruelty to a child. This happened at the end of March of this year. It was false but the Brandon PD investigated, as was part of their job. I am not condemning the PD but should they be allowed to print a person’s name, whether true or false?

BRANDON—Every fall, the Brandon Budget Committee is tasked with creating a town budget that will be offered for approval to the voters of Brandon at Town Meeting the following March. The Committee is composed of citizens appointed by the Brandon Selectboard and members of the Selectboard itself. This year’s appointed members are Doug Bailey, Jan Coolidge, Neil Silins, Barry Varian, Patricia Welch, and Peter Werner.

WALLINGFORD — A Wallingford man was arrested late Wednesday night following a domestic assault incident on Tifft Road. Vermont State Police responded to the scene at approximately 8:38 p.m. after receiving a report of the altercation. The accused, 59-year-old Luke Godin, allegedly caused pain and injury to a household...

PITTSFIELD — The Pittsfield Police Department is requesting the public’s help in locating 15-year-old Josiah Delph, who has been reported missing. Josiah is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 165 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a black Nike sweatshirt.