Sex assault, store robbery, DUI arrests reported
[Editor’s note: Date of Irasburg accident updated and corrected from earlier edition.]
by Guy Page
Vermont State Police are investigating a multi-vehicle crash involving downed power lines on U.S. Route 5 in Irasburg that sent one driver to the hospital and temporarily disrupted utilities.
Police said the crash occurred January 9, at about 6:58 a.m., when a 2016 Toyota Corolla driven by Tristian Landry, 27, of Newport City, was traveling northbound and went off the roadway, striking and damaging a utility pole. A second vehicle, a 2020 Jeep Grand Cherokee operated by Jeffrey Como, 39, of Barton, was traveling southbound and was unable to stop before striking the downed pole and power lines. Como’s vehicle rolled into the southbound ditch.
A third vehicle, a parked and unoccupied 2008 Toyota Tundra at a nearby residence, was also struck and sustained minor front-end damage. Como was treated at North Country Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. Landry reported no injuries. Orleans Fire, Orleans EMS, Vermont Electric Cooperative, Wright’s Towing and M&A Auto assisted at the scene.
State police have also charged a Whiting man in connection with a sexual assault investigation involving a juvenile victim. According to investigators, detectives with the Vermont State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigations began looking into the case on Sept. 5, 2025, following an incident reported to have occurred on Aug. 28, 2021. Police allege that Carson P. Bertrand, 21, committed sexual assault by engaging in nonconsensual sexual contact with a juvenile. Bertrand was issued arresting documents on Jan. 9 at the Southern State Correctional Facility and is scheduled to appear in Addison County Superior Court, Criminal Division, on Jan. 12. He remains held at the facility on unrelated charges.
Police also reported several recent DUI arrests across the state:
- Jason Babcock, 46, of Shoreham, was arrested Jan. 8, 2026, after troopers responded to a crash at Elmendorf Road and Doolittle Road in Shoreham. Police said they observed multiple indicators of impairment and Babcock was cited to appear in Addison County Superior Court on Jan. 26, on a charge of DUI refusal.
- Lauren Foohey, 68, of Lexington, Massachusetts, was arrested Jan. 9 after troopers responded to a report of a vehicle off the roadway near 840 Rockingham Road in Rockingham. She is cited to appear in Windham Superior Court on Jan. 27 on a charge of driving under the influence.
- Joshua T. Harvey, 26, of Bennington, was taken into custody following a motor vehicle stop on North Street in Bennington, where troopers reported observing signs of impairment. Harvey was issued a criminal citation and released.
In a separate incident, state police arrested Dennis Doner, 40, of Bradford, in connection with an attempted robbery at the Family Dollar store in Bradford. Troopers said evidence led them to a nearby apartment where Doner was located and taken into custody without incident. He was processed at the St. Johnsbury barracks and later released on citation with conditions to appear in court.