BRISTOL — Police in Bristol on Sept. 17 responded to a complaint of a woman, believed to be intoxicated, driving from Bristol Beverage.
A search on the license plate revealed the vehicle belonged to Susan Paquin, 49, of Bristol, said Police Chief Kevin Gibbs. Police soon received a second report that Paquin was at a Mountain Street residence.
An officer responded to the scene and, according Gibbs, was assaulted by Paquin, who resisted arrest until the arrival of a second officer. She continued to resist arrest and attempted to kick one officer while she was placed in a police cruiser, Gibbs said.
Police took Paquin to the police station and charged her with driving under the influence, criminally driving with a suspended license, possession of marijuana and assault on a police officer. She was lodged at the Chittenden County Correctional Facility for lack of bail, where Gibbs said she was found in possession of morphine.
Meanwhile, Bristol police also were kept busy with several other drug-related arrests and investigations last week.
The department also found itself tied up in police brutality allegations, after a Sept. 23 argument between an officer and an individual who had been stopped for allegedly making an improper turn got physical. Gibbs on Monday said a follow-up investigation was being conducted; see related article for details.
In other recent activity, Bristol police:
•  On Sept. 18 assisted Vermont State Police with a report of a shot fired on the one-lane bridge on Route 116.
•  On Sept. 18 responded to a report of a tree down on East Street blocking both lanes. A motorist with a tow chain in his truck was able to remove it before the highway department arrived on scene.
•  On Sept. 18 received a report of a utility line down on Maple Street. It was determined to be a phone line, and it was removed from the roadway.
•  On Sept. 18 responded to an alarm activation at the Bristol Bakery. Everything was found to be locked and secured.
•  On Sept. 19 logged a complaint of a vehicle parked in front of Cubbers since August. A ticket and a towing notice were placed on the car. When it was not moved the next day, it was towed. As of Monday, the owner had not contacted the police to retrieve the car.
•  On Sept. 19 responded to Burpee Road to assist Vermont State Police with a single vehicle crash. The vehicle had gone off the road and traveled another 300 feet. No one was hurt; the driver was issued a ticket for driving too fast for conditions.
•  On Sept. 19 received a call from a citizen about a possible drug deal on the town green. A witness reported that a suspected drug dealer had placed an object on a trash can; several minutes later another individual had come and picked up the object. Both were gone when police arrived at the scene.
•  On Sept. 20 responded to an alarm activation at Rite Aid. The building was found to be secure, though the back loading dock door was open.
•  On Sept. 21 received a report of a stolen iPhone at the Hub teen center. The staff member whose phone had been stolen was subsequently able to track the device online, zeroing in on two different locations where the phone had been taken. Police are following up to identify the suspect.
•  On Sept. 21 received a report of a hit-and-run that occurred somewhere in the Bristol area, sometime in the past month. Gibbs said the report was filed for insurance reasons.
•  On Sept. 21 received a small quantity of marijuana taken off a student at Mount Abe. Action is pending.
•  On Sept. 21 received some liquor taken from a different Mount Abe student. Action is pending.
•  On Sept. 21 received a tobacco violation witness statement from Mount Abe. Action is pending.
•  On Sept. 22 assisted the Bristol Rescue Squad at the town green where the Harvest Festival was under way, to aid a woman with a minor head injury.
•  On Sept. 22 executed a search warrant in connection with possible drug dealing out of a Main Street apartment. As a result, police cited Debra Foley, 42, for possession of marijuana. Gibbs said another person who was a suspected drug user and dealer had also been staying in the apartment. Gibbs said some drug paraphernalia that suggested heroin use on the part of her guest was found, but no actual heroin.
One of Foley’s neighbors walked into Foley’s apartment while officers were executing the search, and Gibbs said the person allegedly smelled strongly of marijuana. Officers began to conduct followup in order to obtain a search warrant on that neighbor’s apartment; the neighbor then chose to hand over what he said were all the drugs in his possession, Gibbs said. Action in this case may be pending.
Later that day, police began investigating a report about a potential drug deal on Main Street. The individual in question was the same individual who had been staying in Foley’s apartment and suspected of heroin use, Gibbs said.
•  Also on Sept. 22 police, at the Harvest Festival, held a sale of unclaimed and found property and made about $250.
•  On Sept. 24 responded to a report of a family disturbance on South Street. A male subject was refusing to let his girlfriend take a child and some belongings from his home. They were both biological parents. No court action was taken.
•  On Sept. 24 received a report of three suspicious people between Rite Aid and Shaw’s, two male and one female. The complainant believed there had been drug activity. Police did not locate any individuals.
•  On Sept. 24 received a report of a lost dog from a man on Mountain Street. The dog is a Saint Bernard mix named Pattycakes who has a collar and tags. Anyone who locates the dog is asked to contact Bristol police at 453-2533 to return it to its owner.
CORRECTION:The Bristol Police Log in the Sept. 20 edition of the Independent incorrectly stated that there were no laws in place to protect victims of phone scams. Bristol Police Chief Kevin Gibbs clarified that it is a crime to “con” someone into giving money under false pretenses; however, he pointed out that in many cases the offender is outside the jurisdiction of local police, and prosecuting them would be “difficult if not impossible.” The Independent regrets the error.