The Vermont State Police and the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner are investigating the death of an inmate at the Northeast Correctional Complex in St. Johnsbury. Michael Dupont, 36, of Barre City was found in his cell by Department of Corrections staff at about 3:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 20.
Game warden impersonators arrested
Police have charged two Highgate men with impersonating game wardens and assault in connection with a Nov. 20 incident at a Highgate home.
Parrot smuggler gets two-year sentence
Rodriguez told law enforcement that he intended to give these birds to his mother and sister as Christmas gifts. The government questioned the credibility of that claim pointing out that these birds were collectively worth at least $10,000 and the defendant had a history of profit motivated crimes involving theft, fraud, and drug dealing.
St. Joseph’s Orphanage task force: abuse, but no charges
No charges will be brought involving the Orphanage, which closed in 1974. Due to the statutes of limitation, which limit the timeframe during which criminal charges can be brought by the State, only the crime of murder would have been prosecutable due to the passage of time since the events of the allegations.
Wrong-way driver strikes police cruiser, van on I-91
Several people were injured in a series of crashes Sunday night, Dec. 13 on Interstate 91 in the town of Dummerston involving a wrong-way driver who sideswiped a police cruiser and then struck a van.
Randolph woman stabs, kills man while four children are at home
The Vermont State Police has arrested Victoria Griffin, 29, of Randolph on suspicion of second-degree murder related to a stabbing that occurred Saturday, Dec. 12.
Hartford, Connecticut a hub for Vermont illegal drugs
The latter case provides a telling, succinct explanation by U.S. Attorney Christina Nolan: “As this case demonstrates, we are working hard to root out long time drug traffickers in Vermont and from source cities like Hartford, Connecticut.”
Hartford CT men sold coke, heroin in Rutland, fed say
The defendants are: Ralph Mariani (a.k.a. “D”), 27, of East Hartford, Connecticut; Cedano Brownswell, 26, of Hartford, Connecticut; and Rashane Wedderburn, 25, of Hartford, Connecticut. The five-count indictment includes charges that: Mariani and Wedderburn distributed Fentanyl; Mariani possessed, with the intent to distribute cocaine base and fentanyl; and Brownswell possessed cocaine base.
Mom charged in violent death of month-old son, dad charged with cruelty
While alone with her child, 28-year-old Stephanie Gero caused injuries to Leo Cushing prior to his death. In addition, investigators learned that Leo’s father, 36-year-old Matthew Cushing, was aware Stephanie Gero was prohibited from being alone with the infant, but that he allowed her to be with the child unsupervised while he was taking a shower.
Guv’s plan would centralize police hiring, training, use of force under State control
The Vermont Department of Public Safety wants public feedback on its plan to “modernize policing across Vermont” by increasing the state role in diversity hiring, policies for use of force and body cameras, banning invasive surveillance, and more.
Armed robber sought in Orleans
Dec. 1 at 9:20 pm, Vermont State Police responded to a report of an armed robbery at the Family Dollar located on Main Street in Orleans. At about 9:15 pm an individual entered the Family Dollar, displayed a weapon and demanded money. He was described as a thin white male about six feet tall and was wearing a dark colored sweatshirt and black pants.
Native of homeless haven, drug-decrim Portland, Oregon warns fellow Vermonters of what’s coming
Despite the obvious gentrification of the Portland, Oregon neighborhoods where I grew up, ten years ago there were no tent cities scattered along the city-scapes. Now there are too many to count. Trash and garbage were rarely an eye sore along the shoulders of the inner-city freeways. Today it appears as though little to no money is in the budget for keeping the roads clean.
Don’t send violent criminals to jail, Chittenden County State’s Attorney says
Should people arrested for committing violent crimes be sent to jail? Sarah George, Chittenden County State’s Attorney, doesn’t think so. Most violent perpetrators need mental health services instead, she said Friday, Nov. 13 on WVMT’s Morning Drive.
Westmore man dies in head-on crash
The following is a selection of police incidents that occurred recently in Vermont, as reported by Vermont State Police.
Kanine Kops fight out-of-state drug crime
Police dogs in recent, separate incidents on both sides of Vermont helped apprehend out-of-staters with illegal drug connections who were fleeing human police, police say.
Vermont a ‘brutally violent’ place for teen prostitute, survivor says in video
by Guy Page Last year, H568, a bill to study legalization of prostitution passed the Vermont House but was not taken up by the Vermont Senate. It is expected that its supporters […]
UVM Medical Center blocks incoming email, patient portal still down
by Guy Page – Below are 10 takeaways the press statement and other information available today at 2:30 pm by the University of Vermont Medical Center about last week’s “cyberattack event.” The […]
FBI warned hospitals of ‘ransomware’ attacks
Timing of UVM Medical Center patient portal shutdown linked to costly “Ryuk” ransomware attacks by Guy Page October 29, 2020 – The U.S. government yesteday issued an alert about ransomware attacks on […]
Investigation begun by Vermont U.S. Attorney Nolan leads to $8 B Purdue Pharma opioid settlement
The Department of Justice Wednesday October 21 announced a global resolution of its criminal and civil investigations into the opioid manufacturer Purdue Pharma. “The abuse and diversion of prescription opioids has […]
No new positive cases among 2000 VT inmates
Republished from Sun Community News MONTPELIER | The third round of mass testing for all Vermont facilities showed no new positive cases of COVID-19 among the more than 2,000 Vermont staff and […]
Commercial cannabis backers ignore plea for racial justice
S54 is ‘harmful to African Americans of Vermont,’ Justice For All says By Guy Page September 24, 2020 – Last year, legislators and lobbyists invested S54, the commercial cannabis bill approved yesterday […]
Vermont top cop ready to meet with election protest organizers
If election protests ensue, Scott, Schirling want to ensure protesters’ rights, everyone’s safety By Guy Page September 22, 2020 – Vermont public safety leaders stand ready to meet with protest organizers to […]
Man fired for stopping purse thief has new job, Gofundme site, others’ admiration
by Guy Page September 22, 2020 – A young Essex Junction man and volunteer firefighter fired from his grocery store job for stopping a purse thief now has a new job, a […]
Vermont protesters, government ponder post-election unrest
In a year unlike any other in our lifetimes, Vermont activists, lawmakers and National Guard leaders discuss what could happen if election goes sideways By Guy Page September 17, 2020 – Lawmakers, […]
Frustrated Burlington cop was punched first, video shows
Should Burlington fire cop Corey Campbell? See body cam video before you decide By Guy Page September 11, 2020 – BLM protesters say they won’t leave Burlington’s Battery Park until three cops […]
Exec order gives State more ‘fair and impartial policing’ power
In response to aftermath of Floyd killing, Scott hands Department of Public Service bigger role in hiring, training, oversight of all Vermont police By Guy Page September 9, 2020 – Gov. Phil […]
Text of Governor’s August 20 Executive Order on Policing
Editor’s Note: the following executive order on public safety was issued by Gov. Scott August 20. It appears below in its entirety. Governor Scott said today at his press conference his administration […]
Leahy, Dean condemn Portland riot violence
Welch demands FBI investigation into “disinformation campaign” about Antifa, suspects Chinese; culprit’s a Bernie supporter By Guy Page August 10, 2020 – Judging by their public statements and actions, Sen. Bernie Sanders […]
VPIRG, ACLU ‘police reform’: end immunity, cut funding, No more school cops
First legislative public hearing on Police Reform tomorrow at 1 pm By Guy Page August 5, 2020 – Tomorrow, Thursday Aug. 6 at 1 pm, the House Committees on Judiciary and Government […]
Hero cop dad kept promise to return home
Vermonters rally Saturday to honor police “heroes among us” – like Frank McCarty, the St. Albans detective who saved a life and kept his promise to his daughter Two days from today, […]
Rally to SUPPORT police planned; UVM to continue fossil fuel heat; self-serve coffee returns!
Vermont Daily is on vacation today, sipping a well-earned cold beverage at Maine’s Wells Beach. We’ll return tomorrow. A rally to support Vermont law enforcement will be held Saturday, July 25, 11 […]
Legalizing prostitution in Vermont would increase demand for young prostitutes
Isolation caused by pandemic already putting young girls at risk from predators by Annisa Lamberton, M.A. July 9, 2020 – Last week in a small town in southern New Hampshire, Ghislaine Maxwell […]
Desecrated Vermont statue?
The sword has been taken from the statue of General John Stark at the Bennington Monument by Guy Page June 23, 2020 – Don’t look now, but the Battle of the Statues […]
Two deadly lists
Since early 2019, four Vermonters have been killed by police; 14 people are victims of murder By Guy Page June 16, 2020 – Vermonters are grappling with emotionally-charged issues of policing and […]
New police chief promises ‘woke’ Montpelier social justice ‘at a responsible pace’
Editor’s note: June 4, after a lengthy job search and interview process, the City of Montpelier announced it had hired former U.S. Air Force, Chicago and New Mexico police officer Brian Peete […]
Vermont’s governor, top cop unaware of ‘no-cops’ territory takeover in Seattle
Scott also calls painting “Black Lives Matter” on street in front of State House “a positive statement” By Guy Page At a press conference today, Governor Phil Scott and Department of Public […]
the union-crushers are coming for Vermont cops
Vermont progressives would defund, disband unionized police departments and start over by Guy Page June 9, 2020 – In his latest blog post, Kevin Ellis – former Burlington Free Press reporter, former […]
Scott on not enforcing social distancing at protests: “how we have handled this has led to more safety”
By Guy Page June 8, 2020 – At his press conference today, Gov. Scott spoke highly of the nonviolent police brutality protests conducted statewide, at which most people wore masks. He lauded […]
Crowd fills State House lawn to protest police brutality
Police defunding discussed, social distancing not observed By Guy Page June 7, 2020 – Hundreds of people protested police brutality against black people at the Honour Their Names rally Sunday afternoon on […]
GoV. Scott: “We just can’t” enforce social distancing at protests
One rule for worshippers, another for protesters? By Guy Page June 5, 2020 – Does Vermont have one rule for worshippers, and another for protesters? Since March, almost all of the estimated […]
In towns bordering Vermont, Massachusetts State Police watch for Antifa
By Guy Page June 3, 2020 – Massachusetts State Police are looking for Antifa activity in small towns in Berkshire County on the Vermont border, according to a memo from the Pittsfield, […]
Nevada ex-prostitutes expose life in legal sex trade
House bill approving state-funded study to “modernize” Vermont prostitution laws now in Senate Judiciary Committee by Guy Page May 13, 2020 – Is a legal “sex trade” (a/k/a prostitution) a safer sex […]
Q & A about ‘Big Brother’ in Vermont
People are wondering about drones, snitches, and bills numbered 666 By Guy Page Concerns about “Big Brother” watching Vermonters have been popping up in social and traditional media ever since March 13, […]
covid-19 likely to mean more domestic abuse in vt; funding needed
Photo: Caledonia County Courthouse. Victims of domestic abuse face more challenges to getting relief-from-abuse orders and other services due to Covid-19 measures, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard today.. By Guy Page March […]
Commercial pot will mean more traffic stops of minorities, Montpelier Democrat warns
Lawmakers explain why they voted as they did on S54, commercial cannabis, and H926, Act 250 revision By Guy Page March 4, 2020 – Lawmakers’ explanations of their votes of S54, commercial […]
Senate bill would add jail time to crimes perpetrated against immigrants
S316 would add ‘immigration status’ to hate crime protection list, gives state courts say in juvenile immigration By Guy Page February 24, 2020 – A bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee would […]
Central police agency gets hearing this week in House Judiciary
By Guy Page February 10, 2020 – the plan to centralize all state and county police under a new Agency of Public Safety will be discussed Wednesday by the House Judiciary Committee. […]
5-minute video: Kai Penn of National Geographic describes ‘perfect storm’ that makes Vermont the most drug-infested state in U.S.
Kai Penn of National Geographic describes in this 2015 video how a shortage of cops, no shortage of oxycontin and heroin, and our interstate highway system’s ease of access to major drug […]
New bill: all game wardens, sheriffs, state police etc. to work under one new agency
Committee chair’s bill would place state police, game wardens, sheriffs, Corrections, etc. in one centralized Agency of Public Safety By Guy Page January 30, 2020 – The Vermont Legislature – already seeking […]
Firearms expert: Senate gun bill would leave Vermont churches vulnerable
By Guy Page December 30, 2019 – This weekend’s shooting at a Texas church and stabbings at a New York Hannukah celebration demonstrate that houses of worship must be able to defend […]
Lawmakers, judge ask: If Woodside closes, where will delinquent youth stay?
No answers yet, but DCF seeking proposals for 5-15 beds By Guy Page December 17, 2019 – As the State of Vermont plans to close Woodside Juvenile Rehabilitation Center, no plan currently […]
Sen. Sears: drug gang activity doesn’t explain all inmate racial disparity; was McAllister suspension fair? “I don’t know”
November 5, 2019 – by Guy Page – Out-of-state, urban drug gang activity in Vermont may play a role in racial disparity of Vermont inmates, but does not fully explain it, Sen. […]
When Vermont women interact with male drug dealers, they lose
By Guy PageOctober 29, 2019 – When drug dealers ply their trade in Vermont, everyone else loses. But recent news reports suggest that often, women are the biggest losers. Sometimes the […]
House bill could shed light on inmate racial disparity
October 18, 2019 – Guy Page – The Judiciary Committee of the Vermont House of Representatives next year is expected to take up a criminal justice data collection bill, a senior legislator told […]
ACLU says decrim will reduce inmate racial disparity – but what’s causing it?
10/10/19 – Guy Page – The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont (ACLU) said Tuesday the Legislature could cut Vermont’s prison population in half if it will: Decriminalize the sex trade Decriminalize […]








