The Vermont Drug Task Force obtained a warrant to search a man’s backpack on September 17. Inside police found a single plastic bag containing approximately 174 grams of cocaine.

Police initially seized the bag on Sept. 13 as part of a drug investigation in Bennington. The Bennington Police Department assisted with the investigation.

On September 18, Nicholas Goodrum was arrested on a charge of trafficking cocaine. At the time of the investigation, Goodrum was on probation for previous charges of heroin trafficking and conspiracy to sell cocaine. 

Goodrum was brought to the Vermont State Police barracks in Shaftsbury for processing. He was subsequently jailed at the Southern State Correctional Facility in Springfield on a probation violation and is to appear for arraignment on the trafficking charge on Sept. 19 in the Criminal Division of Vermont Superior Court in Bennington.

Goodrum is being prosecuted by the Bennington County State’s Attorney’s Office. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101 or submit a tip anonymously via https://vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

Disorderly conduct at Walmart

On September 16, the Berlin Police Department responded to Walmart for the report of alleged threats towards Walmart employees.

During the investigation, Eric Bates, 55, was cited to appear in Washington Superior Court-Criminal Division for November 7.

Assault suspect flees on bicycle

On September 17, at around 10:30 AM, the Burlington Police Department responded to reports of a victim with head injuries, apparently struck by a metallic object.

The victim was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center by the Burlington Fire Department.

The suspect, Jason Anderson, 48, of Burlington, was found by officers nearby. When officers attempted to approach Anderson, Anderson fled on a bicycle. Officers activated their blue lights and sirens of their cruisers and began following Anderson while giving him orders to stop.

Officers eventually exited their cruisers and told Anderson he was being detained. This caused Anderson to attempt to flee again, but this time officers were able to safely detain him.

When Anderson was detained, he initially gave officers a false name. However, officers were informed by dispatch that Anderson currently has an active warrant.

Anderson was transported to the BPD for processing. After being processed, and before being transported to Northwest State Correctional Facility (NWSCF), Anderson took off running from officers, and was taken back into custody after officers physically restrained him. Anderson was subsequently transported to NWSCF.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department at 658-2704.

Suspect attempts to flee traffic ticket, goes into river

On September 17, a Lyndonville Police Department patrol officer attempted to stop a suspicious vehicle on East Burke Road for a motor vehicle violation.

The vehicle stopped near 128 Slate Lane where the driver immediately took off running. The suspect, Jonathan Rutledge, 46, ran into a wooded area and into the Passumpsic River. 

Rutledge was pursued into the river and subsequently arrested. Rutledge was cited into Caledonia Superior Court with an arraignment date of November 18.

Rutledge was also the subject of two arrest warrants, one out of Caledonia Superior Court for cocaine possession and another out of Windsor County Superior Court for driving after criminal suspension. Rutledge was lodged at Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in lieu of $200 cash or surety.

School placed on lockdown after threatening phone call

The Troy School was placed under lockdown on September 12 after Michael Libera, 45, allegedly made “life threatening statements” towards Troy School staff members and other members of the community.

Due to the serious nature of the statements made and abundance of caution the Superintendent made the decision to place the Troy School on lockdown. A police presence remained on school grounds for the day.

No further incidents involving Liberta were reported.

Liberta was later located and issued a citation to appear in Orleans Superior Court on October 15.

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