Vermont State Police say a 7-year-old child was found standing alone on the side of the road in cold weather Tuesday, prompting an investigation that led to the arrest of a Lyndon man.

Troopers from the St. Johnsbury Barracks responded after a passerby reported seeing the child outside without an adult. Police say temperatures in the area were low enough to raise immediate concern for the child’s safety. When troopers arrived, they located the juvenile near the roadside and learned the child had wandered out of a home after being left unattended.

According to troopers, the child had been left alone in the residence for “an extended period of time,” though police did not specify the duration. Investigators determined the child eventually left the house and ended up outside near the roadway. Authorities did not release medical details, but said the child was brought to safety while troopers continued their inquiry.

Police identified the caregiver as Jared Anderson, 34, of Lyndon. Anderson was taken into custody without incident and transported to the St. Johnsbury Barracks for processing. The investigation remains active, and charges are expected.

120 MPH on I-89 – A St. Albans man was arrested Tuesday night after Vermont State Police recorded his vehicle traveling at 120 miles per hour on Interstate 89 in Milton.

Troopers patrolling the area near mile marker 102.8 observed a northbound vehicle approaching at a high rate of speed shortly before 8:45 p.m. RADAR confirmed the vehicle’s speed at nearly double the posted 65-mph limit.

A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Lucas Hall, 34, of St. Albans. Hall was taken into custody without incident and brought to the Williston Barracks for processing. He was cited to appear in Chittenden County Superior Court to answer the criminal charges.

Hall also received a Vermont Civil Violation Complaint for interstate speeding, carrying two points and an $806 waiver fine.

Steals alcohol, crashes car, flees police – A transient Vermont man with an active arrest warrant was taken into custody Tuesday morning after allegedly stealing alcohol, crashing into a vehicle, and fleeing from officers near a Berlin convenience store.

The Berlin Police Department reported that around 6:54 a.m., officers were in the area of the Maplefields on Paine Turnpike North when a driver sped toward them in a negligent manner, struck a bystander’s vehicle, and ran into nearby woods.

Police say the driver, later identified as Eric Allen Leonard, 45, had stolen alcohol from the store and was operating with a criminally suspended license. Officers also reported that Leonard nearly struck them during the incident.

Barre City Police later located Leonard and took him into custody on an existing warrant for lack of $500 bail. The warrant stemmed from earlier charges including Unlawful Mischief and Disorderly Conduct with a Hate Crime Injunction.

Leonard was cited to appear Dec. 11 in Washington County Court on new charges including Retail Theft, Driving with a Criminally Suspended License, Negligent Operation, Leaving the Scene of an Accident, and Eluding a Police Officer. He was then transferred into the custody of the Vermont Department of Corrections.