Burlington City Hall Park drug dealer sentenced / Alleged home improvement fraudster busted, again / scooter theft

Police report roundup by Guy Page

Colchester Police arrested Adam Tatro, 33, Richmond early Tuesday morning following a pursuit in a stolen vehicle and subsequent crash in Essex. 

Colchester police say that at about 1 AM Officer Lucas McClanahan located a red 2013 Subaru stopped on Windemere Way at the intersection of Colchester Point Road. Officer McClanahan approached the vehicle and after several minutes of not moving Sergeant Jeremy Wyskiel arrived to assist. 

The vehicle then fled the scene. A pursuit ensued with speeds reaching as high as 75 mph but the majority of the speeds were between 25 and 40 mph. The pursuit continued from Colchester Point Road to Lakeshore Drive, then onto Blakely Road and Severance Road. The vehicle lost a tire on the right side, but continued traveling on the rim. The vehicle turned right onto Susie Wilson Road in Essex where it struck a curb, and stopped on the embankment. 

The engine of the vehicle continued at high RPMs. The vehicle then caught fire while the operator refused commands by officers to exit the vehicle. As the vehicle caught fire the operator continued to resist efforts to be removed and had to be physically removed. Officer Emily Fitzpatrick deployed her Taser and the operator was then removed from the burning vehicle by Colchester and Essex officers. The vehicle had been reported stolen from Burlington on September 17 and is now total loss. 

Tatro was taken into custody and lodged at Northwest State Correctional Facility for lack of $1,000 bail on charges of aggravated operation of a vehicle without owner’s consent, violation of pre-trial conditions of release, eluding a Police Officer, and gross negligent operation of a motor vehicle. Additional charges are being investigated.

Burlington City Hall Park drug dealer sentenced – Kenneth Jackson, 69, of Burlington was sentenced September 19 in federal court to serve 48 months in prison after his guilty plea to one count of distribution of fentanyl and one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and fentanyl. 

According to court records and proceedings, in October and November 2022, Jackson sold drugs from his car at City Hall Park in Burlington. A confidential informant (CI) purchased cocaine, cocaine base, and fentanyl from Jackson on several occasions. Law enforcement arrested Jackson on November 10. During a search of Jackson due to his arrest, law enforcement found approximately $1,950. During a search of Jackson’s car, law enforcement found approximately $5,500, fentanyl packaged for sale, cocaine base, and cocaine. Law enforcement also searched Jackson’s residence, during which was found additional amounts of fentanyl and cocaine base, a loaded Rossi .357 caliber revolver under the mattress in Jackson’s bedroom, and materials used to package drugs for sale.  

At the sentencing hearing, Judge Sessions noted that he had previously sentenced Jackson for separate drug trafficking offenses that occurred in 1998 and 2007. Judge Sessions further observed that he found as an aggravating circumstance that Jackson “set up shop in public places, including the main city park in Burlington, Vermont,” for the distribution of drugs.

Home improvement fraud arrest – Chief Travis Bingham of the Newport Police Department reported that they have charged Shayne Bergeron, a 37-year-old from Irasburg, with Home Improvement Fraud, the Newport Dispatch reported September 19. 

In September 2021, a homeowner on Racetrack Road claimed to have paid Bergeron and his company, Rock Solid Landscaping, an advance of $7,000 for work on a stone wall. Bergeron later asked for an additional $3,000 for materials. Despite the payments, the stone wall was never built. Furthermore, Bergeron did not return the money when the homeowner asked for a refund.

Bergeron is due to appear in Orleans Criminal Court on Oct. 24. “Bergeron has been charged with home improvement fraud in various other communities in this region,” stated Chief Bingham. “Homeowners diligently save to afford enhancements to their properties. They deserve honest contractors who will complete the tasks they’ve been paid for.”

For the benefit of residents, Chief Bingham and the Newport Police Department have provided some guidance from the Federal Trade Commission on hiring contractors:

• Only engage with contractors who are licensed and insured.
• Always ask the contractor for proof of insurance.
• Get recommendations for contractors from trusted acquaintances or family members.
• When researching a company online, pair its name with keywords like “scam,” “review,” or “complaint.”
• Peruse customer feedback to learn more about the contractor. Use trustworthy online rating platforms to understand the experiences of other clients.
• Obtain multiple cost estimates. Ensure that written estimates detail the work, materials, expected completion date, and the total cost. Avoid instinctively opting for the lowest estimate. If there’s a significant difference in the estimates, ask for an explanation.
• Do not pay the full amount for any project upfront.

Officer injured in Burlington retail theft bust – Shawn McAllister, 53, of Burlington was arrested and jailed September 18 for retail theft on Shelburne Street. McAllister had two outstanding warrants for his arrest when officers apprehended him after a chase. A police officer was injured in the incident, Burlington police say.

Stolen scooter – Police are seeking the public’s help in locating two people who were involved in a theft in Derby Line early Saturday morning.

Authorities say they were notified of the theft that occurred during the nighttime on Main Street at around 12:50 a.m.

Police say two men stole a kids electric scooter from a home. Anyone with information regarding the identity of the suspects is asked to call 802 334 8881.

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