by Guy Page
A 49-year-old male and a 42-year-old woman were arrested in the late morning of Friday, September 1 by Montpelier police while engaging in a sex act in a public space in plain view of passing vehicles and pedestrians.
The event occurred at about 10:55 AM in a grassy area on Memorial Drive, AKA Rtes. 2 and 12 in Montpelier.
Officer Joshua Rolland and Corporal Michael Philbrick were on regular patrol when they observed a couple engaged in a sex act in plain view of passing vehicles and foot traffic in a public space, the MPD Facebook post said September 2. Officers intervened and stopped the graphic display.
“Our investigation revealed probable cause that a 49-year-old male and a 44-year-old female, both from Montpelier, had committed the crime(s) of lewd and lascivious conduct and prohibited conduct (misdemeanors) and were arrested. These informational posts are made in the interest of general transparency and community awareness of MPD activities,” MPD said.
Police did not provide either their names or addresses, other than to say they live in Montpelier. Exclusive video of the event, taken by a passerby and emailed to VDC, shows a man appearing to perform oral sex on a partially-clad woman. The video will not be made public by VDC.
Man set his house on fire, police say – Vermont State Police are investigating an intentionally set fire that occurred early Saturday, Sept. 9 at 68 Taylor Valley Rd. in Strafford. Troopers arrested the owner of the home, 37-year-old Edward Gallagher III, on a charge of first degree arson.
At about 8 a.m. Saturday, a caller reported that the home had burned to the ground and was still smoldering. The Strafford Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene and based on evidence found at the location, requested the Vermont Department of Public Safety Fire and Explosion Investigation Unit investigate.
Police say the fire was intentionally set in the overnight hours, and the homeowner, who was unaccounted for, was identified as the suspect. At about 9:20 a.m., troopers received a report that Gallagher was at a nearby store. State police responded and arrested him without incident.
Gallagher was ordered jailed without bail pending an arraignment scheduled for 1 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Chelsea.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing. Anyone with information that could assist investigators is asked to contact Detective Sgt. Christopher Blais at the Royalton Barracks at 802-234-9933.
Burglars in U-Haul steal $10K of tools from Goddard College – Thieves driving a U-Haul burglarized Goddard College in Plainfield at 3:35 AM Sunday, September 3.
State police say at least two suspects drove to the college in a U-Haul truck, entered a maintenance building, and stole approximately $10,000 worth of tools before leaving.