VERGENNES — Vergennes police charged a 20-year-old Northlands Job Corps student with aggravated assault following an Oct. 29 beating that resulted in the victim being treated in Porter Hospital for a broken nose and broken finger.
Police arrested Parish Gregory, 20, of South Bethlehem, Pa., on Oct. 30, and he was held for lack of $20,000 bail until he was arraigned.
Police said the assault was not immediately reported, but that they were notified when the student the next morning, the 30th, went to the Northlands infirmary because his face was badly swollen and he was having trouble seeing out of one eye. Northlands medical personnel sent the victim to Porter, and Vergennes police met him there.
Police Chief George Merkel said the student was reluctant to talk to them because of fear of retaliation for snitching, and only did so when he was promised a safe room off the Northlands campus.
The student then alleged that Gregory invited him to play an Xbox game in a dorm room. When they got there, the victim alleged that Gregory closed the door behind them and that several other students watched Gregory punch him in the head several times and then stomp him when he fell to the floor.
Police said the victim told them that Gregory apparently believed that the victim had snitched on a mutual acquaintance, who had been terminated from the Job Corps program.
In other incidents between Oct. 29 and Nov. 3, Vergennes police:
•  On Oct. 29 cited Matthew Montgomery, 19, of Vergennes for simple assault on a Vergennes Union High School bus; police allege he struck a juvenile male several times, bloodying his nose.
•  On Oct. 29 took a stray dog from the Second Street area to the Vergennes Animal Hospital.
•  On Oct. 29 helped a motorist get into a locked car in a Panton Road parking lot.
•  On Oct. 31 dealt with a Main Street barking dog complaint.
•  On Oct. 31 went to city schools and handed out fluorescent safety bags to trick-or-treaters to use that evening, and during the evening conducted safety patrols and handed out glow lights to kids who were out. Police said the bags were donated by American Legion Post 14.
•  On Oct. 31 issued two tickets for underage drinking to VUHS students and met with students and parents at VUHS about the issue.
•  On Oct. 31 took a 19-year-old resident into protective custody after he was caught on video stealing an alcoholic beverage from Champlain Farms. Police said he became belligerent and had to be put in restraints when they spoke to him, and also ultimately admitted to snorting Oxycontin. They took the teen to Fletcher Allen Health Care, the Act 1 detox center, and then to the Chittenden County Correctional Center. Police said charges are possible related to this incident.
•  On Nov. 1 responded to a possible burglary at Bub’s Barn on New Haven Road, but it was determined nothing was missing.
•  On Nov. 1 looked in on a female motorist who was seen asleep at the wheel of a car parked on Little Otter Lane; police said she was tired and stopped to take a nap. This action was taken on behalf of Vermont State Police.
•  On Nov. 2 went to the John Graham Shelter to help officials there sort out a custody dispute and arrested the couple involved on outstanding warrants. Police lodged Nichole Therrien, 36, and Jean Gaborau, 45, both of Rutland, at the Chittenden County Correctional Center. Police returned to the shelter the next day to follow up on a custody issue.
•  On Nov. 2 checked out an abandoned Spring Street home that had lights on, but found no problem.
•  On Nov. 3 helped VSP take a man into custody in Ferrisburgh who was wanted by Hinesburg police.
•  On Nov. 3 took a report of vandalism to a motor home on Comfort Hill.
•  On Nov. 3 dealt with a Main Street noise complaint.
•  On Nov. 3 removed an unwanted man from a Booth Woods apartment.
•  On Nov. 4 checked the welfare of a Second Street man on behalf of his daughter; he was OK.