By Guy Page

A Derby man has been charged with arson after allegedly confessing to setting fire to a car and garage in Newport, telling police he was motivated by relationship conflicts, the Newport Dispatch reports.

Derrick J. Davis, 40, pleaded not guilty to three felony charges of first-degree arson, third-degree arson, and unlawful mischief in Orleans County Superior Court. Judge Rory Thibault released him on an unsecured $10,000 appearance bond.

The fires occurred May 27 when a woman reported her Ford Fusion was burning. Newport City Fire Department extinguished the vehicle fire in about 30 minutes, but approximately half an hour later, Fire Chief Kevin Lacoss discovered a second fire smoldering in a garage at the same location.

According to Newport Police Sergeant Charles Moulton’s affidavit, the car showed unusual damage patterns on the front driver’s side and engine compartment. Inside the garage, fire was smoldering high in a corner near rafters, with additional charred areas suggesting multiple heat sources had been applied to the walls.

Chief Lacoss became suspicious when he noticed the garage fire was 40 to 50 feet from the car fire. The next day, investigators including Lacoss, Sergeant Nicholas Rivers, and a state fire inspector concluded the fires were arson.

Surveillance video from a neighbor showed Davis walking near both the car and garage shortly before the fires. When questioned, Davis initially said he had walked partway to the fire site before going home.

After being confronted with video evidence, Davis admitted to igniting both the car and garage with a lighter, according to Moulton’s affidavit.

Police said Davis was motivated by anger over a former girlfriend’s new relationship with someone connected to the property.

Weed whackers recovered – The St Johnsbury Police recovered a pair of stolen weed whackers, taken from the St Johnsbury Baseball League. The value of the two items was estimated at $800. The items have been returned to the organization, and police are following leads to identify the responsible parties for this theft.  

SoBu man crossing border busted for DUI – 9 PM August 7, state police responded to a report from Canadian Customs of a possibly impaired driver at the border crossing.

Troopers identified the driver as Kevin Greene, 49, of South Burlington. Police say Greene showed signs of impairment during their interaction. After an investigation, he was arrested for driving under the influence.

Greene was processed at the St. Albans Barracks and issued a citation to appear in Franklin County Criminal Court on Sept. 8.

Two injured in freeway crash near U-Turn – A Colchester couple was seriously injured Thursday evening August 7 in a single-vehicle crash on I-89 northbound, just south of Exit 12 in Williston.

Vermont State Police said Wayne Harms, 74, was driving a 2019 Toyota Tacoma when the truck veered off the roadway near a U-turn, became airborne, and struck a group of trees. The vehicle sustained heavy damage and was declared a total loss.

Harms and his passenger, Liza Harms, 64, both suffered serious injuries and were transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment.