A 37-year-old woman jailed after an alleged attempt to flee police missed her scheduled court appearance Monday because she had gone into labor, according to a September 15 Caledonian-Record report.

Nicole Merrill had been held at the Northeast Correctional Complex following her Saturday night arrest. She faces charges of aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and grossly negligent operation after police said she tried to drive away while officers attempted to arrest her on an outstanding warrant, nearly striking officers and the vehicle’s owner.

Merrill was scheduled for arraignment Monday, but court officials learned she had been transported from the jail to Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital because she was in labor. Officials then struck bail, meaning she would not have to return to jail after leaving the hospital. She was ordered to appear in court the day after her release.

Merrill also faces pending Orleans County cases involving an alleged 2025 hit-and-run and 2024 charges of drunken driving and cruelty to a child. The latter charge stems from an allegation that she drove under the influence with her 18-month-old daughter in the vehicle.

This story was first reported by Dana Gray of the Caledonian-Record.

Four charged after 196 bags of suspected fentanyl, heroin found in Brattleboro

Four people face charges after Vermont State Police said a traffic stop Sunday evening led to the discovery of about 196 bags of suspected fentanyl and/or heroin.

Police stopped a vehicle on Canal Street at about 5:14 PM Sept. 14. Troopers said operator Alex Raymond, 20, and passenger Wayne Griffis, 67, both of Brattleboro, provided false information to police.

Two other passengers, Lorenzo Ward, 30, and Maria Saez, 26, both of Connecticut, were charged with fentanyl trafficking, possession of two or more grams of heroin, providing false information to police and conspiracy. Both were lodged at Southern State Correctional Facility and cited to appear Tuesday in Windham County Superior Court.

Raymond and Griffis were cited to appear Nov. 10.

Fatal crash – no seat belt

A fatal crash in New Haven is under investigation after a vehicle left US Route 7, struck a telephone pole and overturned Monday evening.

Vermont State Police say the crash happened near Lime Kiln Road at about 6:59 p.m.

The vehicle was traveling northbound when it exited the roadway and entered the northbound shoulder. It then struck a telephone pole and overturned.

The driver, 32-year-old Sabrina A. Prim of Vergennes, was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Two passengers were also injured.
Forty-year-old Frances V. McDowell of Ferrisburgh was wearing a seat belt and suffered suspected serious injuries. She was taken to Porter Medical Center.

Forty-two-year-old Crystal L. Mayo, also of Ferrisburgh, was wearing a seat belt and suffered suspected serious injuries. She was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center.

The 2025 Nissan Altima was totaled.
US Route 7 was closed for about three hours while state police processed the scene.

The Vermont State Police were assisted by the Vergennes Police Department, Addison County Sheriff’s Department, Middlebury Police Department, Vergennes Fire Department, New Haven Fire Department, Bristol Rescue Squad, Middlebury Regional EMS and MiddState Towing.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police New Haven Barracks at 802-388-4919. Anonymous tips may be submitted online at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.