By Guy Page

A man with a history of violence, car theft and sex crimes and multiple outstanding warrants was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly assaulting another person with a knife at a homeless encampment north of Waterfront Park, Burlington Police said.

At about 8:28 PM on June 3, Burlington officers responded to a report of an assault in progress involving a weapon. When they arrived, they found several residents of the encampment restraining a man later identified as Robert Jessup, 44. Police said Jessup was combative and refused to identify himself.

According to police, Jessup arrived at the encampment appearing angry and possibly under the influence. He accused a resident of stealing from him, then escalated the confrontation by producing a knife and slashing at the individual. Bystanders intervened, subdued Jessup, and held him until officers arrived.

The primary victim suffered defensive wounds to the hands and arm. Another person who stepped in to help also sustained similar injuries.

Jessup was eventually identified by the Vermont Department of Corrections. Authorities discovered he had an active Vermont warrant for failing to appear on a misdemeanor charge, as well as out-of-state warrants in Texas and Kentucky related to failure to comply with sex offender registry requirements. His criminal record includes convictions for violent crimes and sex offenses.

Jessup was arraigned in Chittenden Superior Criminal Court on Wednesday and ordered held without bail. Burlington Police say they are continuing to investigate the case, including the possibility of extradition to Texas and Kentucky.

Life-threatening injuries for juvenile driver, two others – A serious rollover crash Tuesday evening on Strohmaier Road in Pownal has left three people with life-threatening injuries, according to Vermont State Police.

At about 7:45 PM, emergency responders from Vermont State Police, the Bennington Police Department, Pownal Rescue Squad, and Bennington Rescue Squad were dispatched to the scene of a single-vehicle crash involving a 2004 Nissan Pathfinder.

Preliminary investigation indicates that the SUV, operated by an 18-year-old juvenile from Pownal, veered off the dry roadway under clear weather conditions and rolled over. All three occupants were transported via airlift to Albany Medical Center for emergency treatment. Authorities have not released the names of those involved due to the driver’s juvenile status.

The extent of injuries sustained by the passengers was not immediately disclosed, but all were described as life-threatening.

Drug suspect cited for passing fake cash – The Bradford Police Department has cited a 35-year-old Bradford man, Jeffrey Emerson, for using counterfeit $100 bills to purchase items at local businesses last week, the Journal-Opinion reports. 

In one instance, on the evening of May 27, Emerson provided the fake $100 bill to purchase merchandise at Bradford Mini-Mart and received cash back. 

The following night, Emerson attempted to purchase an item at Family Dollar, but the clerk determined the bill was fraudulent. Emerson left the store without incident. 

In both cases, video footage was used to identify Emerson as the culprit, according to BPD.

In April, BPD charged Emerson and a woman, Thomasina Howard, with drug trafficking, drug sales, drug possession, reckless endangerment, and cruelty to a child after police conducted a search of their South Main Street apartment during a drug investigation.

Moses busted for crack dealing – A Rutland City woman was arrested Tuesday as part of an ongoing drug investigation into the distribution of crack cocaine in the area, according to the Vermont State Police.

Sara E. Moses was taken into custody on June 3 by members of the Vermont Drug Task Force after a search was executed by the Rutland City Police Department, with support from the Vermont State Police Field Force Division and Drug Task Force detectives.

Authorities say the arrest follows a months-long investigation that began in February and involved multiple controlled purchases of crack cocaine from Moses. She was processed at the Vermont State Police barracks and later issued a criminal citation on four counts of sale of cocaine.

Moses is scheduled to be arraigned on July 7, in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Rutland. The case is being prosecuted by the Rutland County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Anyone with information related to the investigation is encouraged to contact the Vermont State Police in Rutland at 802-773-9101 or submit a tip anonymously at https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

Golf cart theft – Vermont State Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a suspect involved in the theft of a gas-powered golf cart from the Canton Campgrounds in Cavendish.

According to troopers from the Westminster Barracks, the incident occurred on May 29 at around 10:15 PM. An unknown male individual was seen stealing the golf cart from a campsite before fleeing the area.

Anyone who recognizes the individual or has information regarding the golf cart’s current location is urged to contact Trooper Jordan at the Vermont State Police Westminster Barracks. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through the Vermont State Police website.