ADDISON COUNTY — Things got a little hairy for first responders who came to the aid of a driver and his passengers after the SUV they were in left the road in Lincoln and crashed last Wednesday afternoon.
On Sept. 21 at a little before 3 p.m., Vermont State Police and several Lincoln firefighters responded to a report that a 1989 Toyota 4Runner had gone off the Ripton Road in Lincoln. The firefighters, who arrived first, found two passengers — Trevor Burton, 30, of Warren and Anna Lienau, 23, of Lincoln — at the scene but no driver. Police said Burton and Lienau refused to give the driver’s name.
During questioning, Burton reportedly got into a firefighter’s personal truck without permission, started it up, and threatened to drive it away. The firefighters were able to talk Burton out of the truck, and convinced him to hand over the magazine to the .9mm handgun he was carrying, though police said he refused to put down the gun.
When Senior Trooper Andrew Leise arrived on the scene, the firefighters alerted him to the handgun in the rear waistband of Burton’s pants (Burton was not wearing a shirt). Leise reached for the gun and was bitten by Burton’s pit bull terrier; he nevertheless secured the gun for safety reasons.
Because Burton started the firefighter’s truck without permission, Leise cited Burton for driving under the influence, third offense; driving without the owner’s consent; and driving with a criminally suspended license. Leise said Burton’s blood alcohol level tested at more than twice the legal limit for driving.
Through investigation and follow up in the area police determined that Michael Farnolo, 41, of Warren had been driving the Four Runner and had fled from the scene on foot after the crash. Sgt. Eugene Duplissis  later located Farnolo on the Gap Road in Lincoln approximately two to three miles from the initial crash scene. Duplissis transported Farnolo to VSP’s New Haven barracks, where he was cited for leaving the scene of a collision.
All three people involved in the 4Runner crash reported bumps and bruises, and the passengers also reported cuts, but none of the injuries were incapacitating. Police said the SUV sustained moderate to severe damage.
In other recent activity, local VSP:
•  On Sept. 3 at 10:20 p.m. were dispatched to an underage drinking party in Bridport. Troopers ended up citing Samuel L. Latreille, 20, of Middlebury for underage consuming alcohol.
•  On Sept. 9 at approximately 3 p.m. responded to a reported theft of 12 posts for a screened room in Leicester. Police cited Deborah Lamica, 42, of Leicester for petit larceny and driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On Sept. 11 at around 2:15 a.m. responded to a crash on Route 30 south of Murray Road in Whiting. Police said a 32-year-old Fair Haven woman driving a 1997 Subaru Legacy collided with a cow in the roadway; the car sustained moderate front-end damage, and the driver, who was wearing a seatbelt, was unhurt.
•  On Sept. 20 at around 4 p.m. stopped a car driven by David J. Feldman of Shoreham on Richville Road for speeding, and ended up citing Feldman for possession of marijuana.
•  Investigated a one-car accident on Sept. 21 at 8:35 p.m. on Jerusalem Road in Starksboro. Troopers said the 16-year-old driver of a 2000 Chevy Impala was traveling too fast for conditions on the gravel road and ran off the roadway and into a tree causing extensive damage to the vehicle. No injuries were reported.
•  On Sept. 23 responded to a residence in Salisbury for a report of domestic disturbance. Troopers found that 31-year-old Seth Austin of Salisbury had stabbed himself in the stomach during an argument. Investigation revealed that a physical altercation had taken place. Police cited Austin for second-degree domestic assault.
•  On Sept. 26 at around 6:20 p.m. stopped Steven Dellefratte, 47, of Bristol on Route 7 in Salisbury and cited him for driving with a criminally suspended license.