Interim Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke said the two men were arrested following a month’s long investigation into a drug trafficking organization operating in the downtown area of the Queen City.
Vermont State Police responded at about 3:15 AM on July 17 to reports of a truck on fire in the roadway. A preliminary investigation found that a small tanker truck traveling southbound experienced an apparent mechanical problem that ignited the vehicle. The cause of the mechanical failure remains under investigation.
It includes using 6 juveniles to sell his crack cocaine in Rutland County
Initial reports indicated that one man, Puma’s father, James, was stabbed and taken to Porter Hospital, apparently by his wife, Janet.
Renee Orzolek, 49, of Craftsbury was conducting flagging operations for road maintenance near Leavitt Circle at about 3:55 p.m. when she was struck by a 2025 GMC Canyon driven by Colby Currier, 88, of Troy, according to police.
Following a brief struggle, the individual—identified as Matthew Adams, 35, of Essex Junction—continued to actively resist arrest, striking and biting law enforcement officers before being taken into custody.
Ashley Williams, 31, of St. Johnsbury, was found outside the residence and was in possession of a trafficking weight of a substance that tested positive for fentanyl, police said. Osvaldo Andino Rodriguez, 43, of Meriden, Connecticut, was found inside the residence, police said. Approximately 115 grams of a substance that field tested positive for cocaine base and over $47,000 in currency were seized, police said.
Investigators are now trying to identify the owner of the pit bull, described as a woman between 40 and 50 years old who was accompanied by a child believed to be 8 to 10 years old at the time of the incident.
When the contractor did not respond to Provost’s demands to move the van, Provost presented a small caliber handgun and fired two rounds into the ground near the van.
Grand Isle County State’s Attorney Doug DiSabito has agreed to participate in the Court Diversion program as an alternative way to resolve his off-duty arrest for driving while under the influence in Franklin County on April 14.
State health officials are encouraging private well owners in the Newport Center area to test their well water after a collaborative study found elevated levels of naturally occurring uranium and gross alpha radiation in some wells on the north side of Vance Hill Road.
The deceased individual is believed to be the man who jumped into the Lamoille River upstream of the lake Wednesday evening to attempt to rescue a young relative who fell into the water.
David Gendreau, 46, was lodged at the Northern State Correctional Facility in Newport on charges of recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest, unlawful mischief and disorderly conduct, state police said.
Ryan S. Orvis, 38, of Hinesburg, is facing various criminal charges, including the theft of $8,000 in tools during a burglary at a construction project inside Mater Christi School on Mansfield Avenue in Burlington, the sheriff’s department said.
The incident was reported at about 7:50 p.m. near the intersection of Highbridge Road, also known as Route 104A, and Arrowhead Lake Road. Initial reports indicated a group of relatives were fishing along the shore when a young girl fell into the water, and a man jumped in to try to rescue her.
Subsequent investigation has revealed the death is not suspicious and is believed to be the result of an accidental drowning. Independent witness statements indicate Richardson voluntarily went into the river and was quickly overpowered by the swift current.
The operator, Jireth Guardado, 27, of Essex, told police he was navigating north on Lake Champlain from the Burlington area when he struck an unknown object in the lake.
A Windsor County man, who authorities say killed his mother while driving under the influence of drugs in 2017, was arrested again on Saturday on a felony charge of DUI — drugs, third offense, after crashing into a Highgate motel.
A New Hampshire registered nurse pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Burlington on Friday to diverting drugs from psychiatric ward patients and tampering with medications at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in White River Junction for at least nine months last year.
Officers entered the building and found Gilman hiding in a small closet or crawl space off an upstairs bedroom.
Court records show Palermo attempted to flee and resist arrest when confronted by the U.S. Marshals Service and Vermont State Police as they executed two extraditable warrants from New Hampshire on April 24 in Groton. State and federal investigators had tracked Palermo to a house at 100 Tinkham Road when they confronted him on the front porch, state police said.
The five-year fight over who runs it is settled. The fight over whether it gets built just started.
Released earlier on conditions from state drug charges
Never seen alive after leaving Barre.
Jakiy Keith, 26, of Hartford, Connecticut, was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Burlington to 13 years and one month behind bars. Keith had pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute cocaine and fentanyl and to carrying a firearm during a drug crime.
The man charged with trying to kill a Grand Isle County deputy sheriff by running him over with a car in March has been released on bail.
Monday morning, FYIVT published an article examining Vermont’s latest “Tax the Rich-ish” campaign and the economic data behind it. By the end of the day, FYIVT had experienced the largest coordinated login attack recorded in the site’s history.
When timelines and details matter
During the course of an unrelated investigation, it was revealed Malik Daley, 39, of Barton, had inappropriate conduct with an adult female sometime between the months of March and April 2026 at a residence on Glover Road in Barton, state police said.
A combination of disorientation and exhaustion and the time of day led her to play it safe and call for help. From Stowe Mountain Rescue
Tanner Hart, 32, of Burlington was picked up on a state parole warrant after the short swim and also was cited for a charge of resisting arrest, the sheriff’s department said. He is due in Vermont Superior Court on July 23.
Vermont’s blotter this week ran heavy on drugs, break-ins and impaired driving. A federal judge handed down a six-year sentence in a Windham County guns-and-drugs case, troopers chased down a wanted man at a Newbury burglary, and a Rutland man was charged with torching a community center.
A Connecticut man, who is charged with defrauding the office of the Vermont State Treasurer out of nearly $475,000, had his federal court hearing postponed Thursday when he tested positive for drugs.
An advocacy group’s new poll put the issue at the center of the Chittenden County State’s Attorney race. The August vote turnout will be the real test.
Investigation has shown Crooker was fatally shot at a home shared by Nickles and Lisa Akey and his body was later burned, records show. Vermont State Police later found some bones, but detectives were unable to locate the skull. The investigation continues.
Four people, including a career criminal, were arrested during a drug raid at 501 Pleasant Street in Newport City on Tuesday, police said.
Ellen E. Willson, 39, of Federal Street has pleaded not guilty in Vermont Superior Court in North Hero to charges of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of gross negligent operation: one with death resulting and one with serious bodily injury, all from the June 15, 2025 crash.
Springfield Police, assisted by the heavily armed Vermont State Police SWAT Team, conducted an early morning drug raid at 26 Litchfield St. on Friday.
Federal authorities have arrested five out-of-state suspects as part of more than a $500,000 fraud perpetrated on banks and credit unions throughout Vermont and the Northeast.
The week’s incidents are a reminder of the steady, often difficult work of keeping Vermont’s communities safe.
Vermont State Police Drug Task Force detectives and the Tactical Services Unit executed a search warrant at a Johnson residence on June 2, arresting James Mason, 47, and Danarius Davis, 23, on a slate of drug charges that includes fentanyl trafficking, cocaine sales, and conspiracy.
When the search was complete, they had recovered approximately 34.9 grams of cocaine and crack cocaine, 2.4 grams of methamphetamine, 448.3 grams of suspected LSD, and a small amount of cash. The case is being handled by Cpl. Gaylord.
A state judge jailed a St. Albans woman on Thursday for several hours as she continued her refusal to turn over the passcode to her cellphone that she was using the day of a fatal motor vehicle crash with two motorcyclists on Father’s Day last year.
$$ from Chinese fraudsters, Newport defense firm, Winooski pornster, Rutland embezzler goes to victims
Vermont State Police say they have new evidence that a Rutland County man arrested on a misdemeanor stalking charge, also was illegally pursuing a separate victim under the age of 16.
A pickup truck crashed the Colchester Burger King Sunday morning.
Also: A mailbox, a driveway, and a fourth DUI.
While these callers may possess some of the recipient’s personal information, it has been gathered from public records — they have no access to law enforcement databases or warrant systems. UVM Police emphasize that they will never call to request money, payment information, photographs, or to warn of an ongoing investigation or open warrant.
Peter Booth, 58, the vice chairman of the Jericho selectboard, Henry Prensky, 79, of Burlington, Aiden Balentine, 39, of Montpelier and Casey Seem, 20, of Oakham, Mass. They are due in state criminal court in Burlington on June 30. For Booth and Prensky it was the second time arrested for a similar blockade at a building containing a support office for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, state police said.
Joshua P. Bedard, 38, is named in a criminal complaint in federal court with drug distribution in Windham County in April, but his business operated as far north as the White River Junction region, according to records.
The department said the detection of a rabid animal indicates the virus is circulating among wildlife in the greater Westmore area.
Case will be held in Franklin County
Biden gave pass to major drug dealer/tax cheat in Vermont
The incident, first reported in early May, has raised serious concerns for families and schools in the Green Mountain State, where Canvas serves as a primary platform for online learning, course management, and communication at higher education institutions and through virtual learning programs. The deadline for the data ransom is May 12.
Seven more Canadians, wanted in Vermont on federal charges as part of a multi-million “Grandparent Scam” that targeted vulnerable elderly people, have been arrested in Quebec on a new fraud indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Burlington said Friday.
A Massachusetts man, wanted for a murder charge in his home state from last month, was arrested in North Springfield by federal, state and local law enforcement officials from two states on Thursday. The U.S. Marshals Service in Vermont and Massachusetts said Daniel Medina, 22, who has a documented history of firearm-related offenses, was apprehended about 3 p.m.
Over a pound of crack cocaine seized
The Wellesley, Mass. mother, who is charged with strangling to death her two young children and leaving them in her bed, is expected back in the Commonwealth today to face two murder charges.
The Vermont State Police is investigating the discovery of human remains in the town of Mt. Tabor within the Green Mountain National Forest. The identity of the deceased person and the circumstances surrounding the death are unknown at this time.
The bust is the latest evidence of drug activity at Barre Manor. Longtime residents say the federally-subsidzed housing is a ‘trap house’ – where residents with money and or/drug problems allow out-of-state drug dealers to live there and play their deadly trade.
Two Franklin County teens are facing court action after they were clocked driving 100 miles per hour or more on Interstate 89 in unrelated incidents on Sunday, Vermont State Police said.
A ransomware attack last fall exposed the Social Security numbers and financial data of 1,757 Vermont residents who stayed at or worked for the Vergennes resort.
Charged with trying to kill Grand Isle County deputy sheriff
Cpl. Jeffery Barriger, 42, of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department remains in critical but stable condition at the intensive care unit at the University of Vermont Medical Center. A spokesman said he sustained serious head, brain and bodily injuries when he landed on the road after being dragged. Court records also show he has a right eye fracture, blood in both ears, a fracture behind one ear, was vomiting blood and had an epidermal hematoma – a critical pooling of blood by the skull.
Avoids death penalty; gets 3 life sentences
Charged with strangulation deaths of her two children, ages 6 & 7
Several bullet holes confirmed in building located in densely populated residential neighborhood.
Since 2021, lawmakers have studied, debated, passed, stripped, reintroduced, and delayed a bill to close the gap that keeps producing these deaths. Kelly Carroll has watched every round.
Individuals at the Dorset Street incident repeatedly stated that State’s Attorney George would not prosecute them for their behavior that day.
South Burlington Police said they received a report of shots fired at about 7:23 p.m. Officers arrived within two minutes, but all individuals involved had already left the scene. A short time later, a victim connected to the incident arrived at University of Vermont Medical Center with an apparent gunshot wound. Authorities said the injuries were not life-threatening.
Brother died in gang-related homicide in Burlington in 2022
The incident shows the need for a bill, now in Senate Judiciary, that would streamline eviction of dangerous tenants.
Under the 13-page signed plea agreement filed Thursday, Bland admits to causing the deaths of both Solomon and White during a drug trafficking crime on Oct. 12, 2023. Both criminal charges carry life sentences. He also has admitted to carrying and using a gun on Oct. 14, 2023 during a drug trafficking crime, which calls for a consecutive life sentence, the plea agreement notes.
George Ellis Phelps, 43, was convicted April 1, in Caledonia Superior Court after entering a guilty plea to cocaine sale or delivery of 2.5 grams or more and fentanyl trafficking.
Ten people were arrested and significant quantities of illegal drugs and cash were seized following coordinated law enforcement operations at two Barre residences on April 4, according to local police. Police reported seizing approximately 13.5 grams of crack cocaine, fentanyl, psilocybin mushrooms, assorted pills, and $1,337 in cash. An additional traffic stop tied to the investigation resulted in the seizure of $6,500.
Marlin Morton, formerly of St. Albans, was driving westbound on Vermont 78 when his 2012 Jeep Liberty went off the road about 5:35 p.m., village police said. Sgt. Kyle Gagne said the Jeep struck a tree and landed upright in the Missisquoi River.
Parishioners said the group’s image of Our Lady of Guadalupe — a revered figure in Catholic tradition and considered the patroness of the pro-life movement — was vandalized with pink paint during the gathering and is now beyond repair.
Two Connecticut men have been indicted on federal drug charges after U.S. Border Patrol agents say the pair fled a traffic stop near the Canadian border and tossed a bag containing fentanyl, cocaine and cocaine base from their vehicle.
A veterinary sedative synthesized in clandestine labs is showing up in fentanyl at rapidly increasing rates, and it doesn’t respond to naloxone
The U.S. Border Patrol arrested Armando Paulino Estudillo, 35, in Lancaster, N.H. as part of a smuggling conspiracy that led to the arrest of a leader with Migrant Justice in Burlington last week.
Blu Zeke Daly, 26, also known as Cullan Zeke Daly, of Manchester, N.H. is facing felony charges of attempted murder of a federal officer and assaulting a federal officer with a dangerous weapon in connection with the shooting in Pittsburg, east of Canaan, Vt., federal court records note.
The victim’s mother wrote that S.193 “missed crossover after valuable committee time was spent on the Burlington ICE hearing instead of advancing time-sensitive public safety legislation.”
Jeffrey Baur, 34, of St. Albans is due for arraignment Friday in Vermont Superior Court in Burlington, state police said.
Jimmy “Coop” Ylimaki, 36, fled to Nicaragua, where he was eventually captured and was recently removed to the United States to face his indictment, officials said.
Three stores targeted in weeks
Second time in three days.
Following an investigation, troopers arrested Malik O. Hardy, 25, of Bennington, on charges including aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated stalking with a deadly weapon, reckless endangerment, grossly negligent operation, criminal threatening, and disorderly conduct.
An autopsy of a homicide in the Northeast Kingdom town of Brownington was completed Thursday, March 19 at the Chief Medical Examiner’s Office in Burlington. The Vermont State Police is able to identify the victim as Alton Wheeler, 79, of Brownington.
Reports and online reviews raise concerns about illicit activity
Ariana Rodger, 43, was taken into custody late March 18 in connection with the death of a man found at a residence on Willoughby Lake Road. She has been charged with second-degree murder, first-degree aggravated domestic assault, and violation of conditions of release.
Peaceful protesters don’t mind being directed by police. Agitators do – and suckerpunch the cops, Morrison said.
Logan Clegg was convicted of killing Steven and Wendy Reid in April 2022. Police searched for months for the killer before Clegg was arrested in Vermont in October 2022 after authorities tracked him down in a Burlington public library. Clegg is a former employee of a Burlington grocery store, according to other news reports.
Smoke and fire pouring out of the truck greeted I-89 exit 10 traffic – including this reporter.
The Chittenden Solid Waste District (CSWD), Vermont’s largest solid waste management entity, has fallen victim to a highly sophisticated phishing scam, losing $3 million—nearly 20% of its $15.6 million fiscal year 2026 budget.
Anyone who receives a suspicious email or phone call claiming to be from a Vermont state agency should not click any links, open attachments, or respond to the message.
Arrested after day-long stand-off
Brittney Roberts, also known as Brittney Metivier, 36, of Barre, was arraigned March 5 in Vermont Superior Court on one felony count of fraud or deceit involving a regulated drug.
State fire safety officials revoked occupancy in residence.
Police say the suspect is believed to have entered apartments in a 55-and-older residential community and taken property belonging to residents.
Deputy sheriff continues to recover from injuries
