by VDC staff

A Barre police dog played a key role in multiple drug arrests last week, while state police investigated the theft of a lawn totem pole in South Hero and charged a New Hampshire woman with animal cruelty in Windham County.

K9 Mike of the Barre Police Department was credited with assisting in two separate traffic stops on August 30 that led to felony drug and weapons charges. In one stop, police said Mike detected a felony quantity of MDMA (Ecstasy), two handguns, and drug paraphernalia. Earlier in the evening, Mike alerted to a large amount of buprenorphine and other paraphernalia. During that stop, the driver was charged with driving on a suspended license, a rear passenger was accused of assaulting an officer, and another passenger who gave a false name was arrested on outstanding warrants.

Cat abandoned – Meanwhile, Vermont State Police said they arrested Leonora M. Thomas, 58, of Northfield, New Hampshire, after she allegedly abandoned a cat in Marlboro on August 30. Witnesses reported seeing Thomas leave the animal in a crate along Route 9 without food or water. The cat was rescued and turned over to the Windham County Humane Society. Thomas was cited to appear in Windham County Superior Court on October 28 to answer to a charge of animal cruelty.

Totem pole stolen – In South Hero, state police are investigating the theft of a carved wooden totem pole (editor’s note: not real animals, but depicting animals) from the lawn of a McBride Lane residence belonging to 78-year-old Elliot Sender. The theft occurred sometime between September 4 and September 6. Authorities are asking anyone with information to contact the St. Albans barracks.