HOUSTON, WE HAVE A PROBLEM: Texas driver does freeway u-turn to ask state trooper a question; armed road rage suspect sought; Burlington thefts
By VDC staff
A suspected drug-related DUI crash involving a police cruiser in Bennington, an armed road-rage investigation in Cabot, a wrong-way driver on Interstate 91, and arrests tied to theft and a stolen vehicle in Burlington are among recent police reports across Vermont.
Bennington crash leads to DUI investigation
Three people suffered minor or suspected minor injuries Thursday night in a three-vehicle crash involving a Bennington Police cruiser, Vermont State Police said.
Police said Gerson Montes, 25, of Schenectady, New York, was driving a 2003 Toyota Camry west on Kocher Drive at about 10:30 PM when his car was struck at the U.S. Route 7 intersection by a southbound BMW driven by Austin Mattison, 24, of Bennington.
The impact sent both cars into a Bennington Police Ford Explorer driven by Sgt. Corey Briggs, 34, who was preparing to turn onto Route 7. Briggs was not injured.
Montes, Mattison and Montes’ passenger, Mya Simpson, were taken for medical evaluation with minor or suspected minor injuries.
State police said troopers suspected Montes was under the influence of an intoxicating substance and later processed him on suspicion of drug-related DUI. He is scheduled to appear Dec. 14 in Bennington County Superior Court, Criminal Division. The crash remains under investigation.
Police seek armed road-rage suspect
Vermont State Police are asking for help identifying a man who police say confronted another driver while armed with what appeared to be a firearm during a road-rage incident on Route 215.
The incident occurred at about 1:30 PM Sept. 4 on Route 215, also known as Main Street, in Cabot.
Police said the man was driving a gray Chevrolet Silverado with Vermont plates. State police released a photograph of the man and vehicle and are asking witnesses or anyone who can identify him to contact the Berlin Barracks at 802-229-9191.
Inquisitive wrong-way driver arrested on I-91
A 79-year-old driver was arrested Thursday after police say he turned around and drove the wrong way on Interstate 91 to speak with a state trooper.
Troopers were monitoring traffic from a U-turn on I-91 south in Hartford at about 9:30 AM when a vehicle passed the trooper, turned around and began traveling the wrong way on the interstate, police said.
The driver, identified as Clifton Eaves, 79, of Houston, Texas, was taken into custody and transported to the Hartford Police Department for processing.
Eaves was cited to appear in Windsor County Superior Court on charges of negligent operation and reckless endangerment.
Police: $1,394 in goods stolen from Church Street store
A Richford man was arrested Wednesday after Burlington police say he stole nearly $1,400 worth of merchandise and resisted arrest.
Police responded at about 4:40 PM to a reported felony retail theft in progress at 31 Church Street. Cpl. Julian Gonzalez located the suspect nearby, but police said the man fled on foot before being caught.
Police identified him as Tanner Hart, 32, of Richford. Officers said Hart resisted arrest and was found with stolen merchandise valued at $1,394.
Police also learned Hart was wanted on a Franklin County arrest warrant carrying $1,000 bail after allegedly failing to appear for a pretrial conference involving two pending retail-theft charges.
Hart was lodged with the Department of Corrections and is expected to face charges of felony retail theft and resisting arrest in Chittenden County Superior Court.
Juveniles arrested after stolen SUV crash
Two Addison County juveniles were arrested Wednesday after police say they fled a crash in a stolen SUV and one assaulted a Burlington police lieutenant while resisting arrest.
Police responded at about 10:07 AM to a crash on North Avenue near Dewey Drive. A Toyota SUV involved in the crash allegedly left without the occupants rendering aid or identifying themselves.
Officers spotted the SUV traveling south on North Avenue, but police said the driver refused to stop and continued to Volz Street, where two males abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
A Burlington police lieutenant caught one suspect on Volz Street. Police said the juvenile assaulted the lieutenant while resisting arrest. The second suspect was found several blocks away and arrested without incident.
Police determined the Toyota had been stolen from a Burlington address the previous day. Both suspects were identified as juveniles from Addison County. They were cited to appear in Chittenden County Superior Court, Family Division, and released to family members.
All suspects cited in police reports above are innocent until proven guilty.