Multiple burglaries assaults, DUIs reported across Vermont

by Guy Page

Lyndonville — Police arrested Donald Hitman, 42, transient of St. Johnsbury, on an outstanding warrant Saturday.

According to the Lyndonville Police Department, an officer located Hitman on Feb. 7 at 3678 Memorial Drive. Hitman had an active arrest warrant for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and criminal threatening. He was taken into custody without incident and lodged at Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in lieu of $500 cash or surety bail.

Burglaries and attempted break-ins

Shaftsbury — On Oct. 14, 2025, troopers with the Vermont State Police were notified of multiple vehicle break-ins on Sycamore Lane. A credit card belonging to Gail Hostetter, 40, was stolen and later used for unauthorized high-value purchases.

Following a months-long investigation involving surveillance footage, eyewitness accounts and digital forensics, Elijah Foucher, 22, was linked to the fraudulent transactions. Foucher was interviewed Feb. 15, 2026 at the Bennington Police Department and cited to appear April 13 in Vermont Superior Court — Bennington Criminal Division. He was processed and released.

Westmore — Two men have been charged in connection with an attempted burglary at the Willoughby Lake Store on the morning of Feb. 8, 2026.

Joshua Waterman, 40, of Glover, and Marcel Cotnoir, 49, of Barton, face charges including attempted burglary, unlawful trespass, unlawful mischief, possession of burglar tools and habitual offender status. Troopers from the St. Johnsbury barracks stopped a vehicle matching the suspect description later that evening and located evidence linking the pair to the attempted break-in. Both men were lodged at Northeast Correctional Facility on unrelated matters and are scheduled to appear Feb. 17 in Orleans County Criminal Court.

Troy — Russell Smith, 45, of Richford, was arrested in connection with a burglary at Troy Hoagies on VT Route 101. Police say a masked man forced entry through a window around 2:35 a.m. Feb. 12 and stole more than $3,000 in cigarettes and vape products. Smith was located Feb. 13, taken into custody and lodged at Northern State Correctional Facility on $50,000 bail.

Assaults reported

Cavendish — Aaron Paradis, 38, of Dorchester, Massachusetts, was cited for simple assault following an incident Feb. 15 at The Pointe at Castle Hill hotel. Troopers determined Paradis assaulted another hotel guest. He is scheduled to appear April 14 in Windsor Criminal Division. Police do not release the names of victims of domestic or sexual assault.

Brownington — Shannon Warner, 51, was arrested Feb. 14 on charges of domestic assault and violation of conditions of release after allegedly causing physical harm to a household member. Warner was lodged without bail at Northern State Correctional Facility.

Craftsbury — Robert Reil, 60, was arrested following a reported family fight spanning Feb. 13–14 on Creek Road. Police allege Reil caused serious bodily injury to a family member. He was ordered held without bail and is scheduled for arraignment Feb. 17 in Orleans County Criminal Court.

Albany — Daniel Fontaine, 62, was arrested Feb. 13 after troopers responded to a disturbance on Hartwell Pond Road. Police allege Fontaine caused bodily injury to a household member and placed others in fear. He was cited to appear Feb. 17 in Orleans Superior Court.

Fuel truck crash in Arlington

Arlington — An Irving Oil tanker truck overturned on Laver Road near Anninas Way at about 9:10 a.m. Feb. 15.

Troopers from the Shaftsbury Barracks responded along with Arlington and Manchester fire departments, Arlington Rescue and Vermont DMV Police. The Freightliner M2 tanker, operated by Michael J. Parker, 54, of Whitehall, New York, rolled onto its side on icy roads. Parker sustained minor injuries.

Authorities said fuel leaked into a nearby stream, prompting response from the Vermont HAZMAT Team. Crews dammed the waterway to prevent further contamination and pumped fuel from the tanker before upright recovery operations. Cleanup crews remained on scene to remove contaminated water.

DUI arrests across Vermont

Police reported numerous driving under the influence arrests in recent days:

• Jeremiah Bindrum, 53, Rochester — Arrested Feb. 14 following a single-vehicle crash near VT Route 125 and College Cross Road in Ripton.
• Andrew Fletcher — Arrested Feb. 14 after a crash on VT Route 16 in Barton.
• Aaron Preston, 36, Johnson — Arrested Feb. 13 after a traffic stop on VT Route 15 in Johnson; charged with DUI #2.
• Francisco Lopez, 52, Lancaster, NH — Arrested Feb. 13 after a pickup truck was found in a snowbank on North Concord Road in Concord.
• Henry Altman, 23, Brooklyn, NY — Arrested Feb. 13 after a crash on Paran Road in Shaftsbury; police allege his BAC was more than three times the legal limit.
• Mathew Costa, 38, Peacham — Arrested Feb. 8 following a rollover on U.S. 302 in Ryegate.
• Izayah Bourn, 21, Proctor — Arrested Feb. 14 following a stop on Strongs Avenue in Rutland City.
• Michael Pereira, 28, Barre City — Arrested Feb. 13 in Berlin for DUI–drugs after a stop on U.S. Route 302.
• Michelle Verge, 42, West Burke — Arrested Feb. 14 after a crash on East Darling Hill Road in Burke.
• Evan Vanhoesen, 25, Dedham, MA — Arrested Feb. 14 following a stop on Interstate 89 in South Burlington.
• Shoshanna Labadie, 24, Corinth — Arrested Feb. 14 after a slide-off on VT Route 25 in Bradford.
• Norman Phinney, 38, Corinth — Arrested Feb. 16 following a stop on VT Route 25 in Bradford.
• Jennifer Foley, 55, South Burlington — Arrested after a slide-off crash in Calais.
• Jeffrey Parker, 44, Montpelier — Arrested following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 89 in Williamstown.

All individuals were cited to appear in the appropriate Vermont Superior Court criminal divisions.