ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police last week made some arrests of people they believe may be behind some of the recent spate of break-ins.
On Feb. 6 Vergennes police contacted the VSP with information regarding multiple burglaries in Waltham. Trooper Armstrong and Trooper Neary with the assistance of Vergennes Det. Jason Ouellette conducted a joint investigation and four individuals were arrested for burglary and other charges, with further charges possible. They were Josh Jerger, 25, of Ferrisburgh; Ernest Cushman, 22, of Bristol; Nicole Hamer, 20, of Bristol; and Jessica Rochon, 24, of Addison.
They were lodged at the Chittenden County Correctional Center; bail was set at $10,000.
The next day, Feb. 7, troopers arrested Tyler Flynn of Vergennes on charges stemming from the Waltham investigation. Flynn was charged with burglary, unlawful trespass and possession of stolen property from three separate incidents. Flynn was lodged for lack of $10,000 bail.
Also on Feb. 7, troopers apprehended and cited Neil Scichitano, 37, of Colchester for burglary at a Waltham residence after an investigation was started in December.
Nevertheless, troopers on Sunday, Feb. 10, were called to a burglary complaint in Weybridge. The complainants reported that property was stolen from the Cave Road residence between 11:30 a.m. and 7:20 p.m. that day.
Anyone with information on this or other break-ins is asked to contact VSP at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
Meanwhile, police last week reported that a lengthy investigation has resulted in the arrest of Ashley Whitney-Jackson, 26, of Middlebury for four felony counts of forgery. Whitney-Jackson was also charged with an additional four counts of violation of conditions of release.
The investigation began in November when a Weybridge resident reported four checks were found to be missing and it was determined the checks were used at local businesses. With assistance from Middlebury and Vergennes police, Hannaford Loss Prevention and Shaw’s Loss Prevention, authorities identified Whitney-Jackson as a suspect. She was subsequently arrested and charged.
In other recent activity, troopers:
•  On Feb. 6 were told about a break-in at a Route 100 home in Hancock. The break-in occurred on Feb. 3 or 4. That same day, troopers received a report of a burglary and the theft of copper pipes from a Rochester residence owned by a Middlebury family. This crime took place between Feb. 1 and 4. Anyone with information on either of these crimes is asked to contact VSP at the Royalton barracks at 802-234-9933.
•  On Feb. 7 at 9:33 a.m. cited Timothy Clark, 48, of Goshen for driving with a license that was criminally suspended for life. The vehicle was stopped while driving on Basin Harbor Road in Ferrisburgh near the Panton town line.
•  On Feb. 8 at 4:30 p.m. responded to a motor vehicle collision on Route 116 in Starksboro. Police said the driver collided with a wooden fence causing minor damage, then left the scene before the trooper arrived. Anyone with information on the driver is asked to contact Trooper Andrew Leise at the New Haven barracks.
•  On Feb. 8 at 5:58 p.m. responded to a vehicle off the roadway on Route 7 in Waltham. Police cited the driver, John T. Kenjok, 43, of Winooski, for DUI (third offense), driving with a criminally suspended license (fourth offense) and careless and negligent driving.
•  On Dec. 10 responded to a one-car crash on Lapham Bay Road in Shoreham. Police said the 16-year-old Bridport resident who was driving the car lost control of the car and drove into a culvert, and he fled the scene. Police cited the teenager for careless and negligent driving.
•  On Feb. 10 at 3:47 p.m. responded to a one-vehicle crash on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. Police said Donald Hunt, 75, of Middlebury lost control of his vehicle when he hit soft snow on the side of the road while travelling southbound. There were no injuries and there was minor damage to the vehicle. The Vermont State Police urge all motorists to use caution while driving and pay attention to changing road conditions.
•  On Feb. 10 at 4 p.m. responded to a report of a family fight at a Smead Road home in Salisbury. Police cited Cliff Casavant, 39, of Salisbury for domestic assault.
•  On Feb. 10 at approximately 6:11 p.m. responded to a car crash on Killington Road in Killington. Police cited driver Caitlyn Crelin, 24, of Brandon for driving under the influence.
Crelin was subsequently taken into custody and transported to the State Police barracks in Rutland for processing. Crelin was released on citation to appear at the Rutland Superior Court (Criminal Division) at a later date and time.
•  On Feb. 11 at 12:30 p.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 116 and Ireland Road in Starksboro. Police said Kirsten Kouwenhoven, 39, of Burlington was stopped on Ireland Road and turned her 2007 Honda Civic onto Route 116 in front of a 2007 Honda Odyssey driven by Eric Forand, 38, of Bristol. The two vehicle collided causing damage to them, but no injuries were reported. Kouwenhoven told the trooper that she had looked both directions before turning but did not see Forand’s vehicle approaching.
•  On Feb. 11 the VSP Special Investigation Unit in Rutland arrested Joseph M. Johnson, 53, of Brandon for allegedly violating his conditions of release. Johnson had been released on conditions in November 2012 on a pending charge of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child. Police said Johnson was found not abiding by his 24/7 curfew and not staying at the address as required in his court-ordered conditions. He was lodged on $5,000 bail at the Marble Valley Correctional Facility.
•  On Feb. 11 responded to a report that a car had slid off Green Street in Waltham. Police cited the driver, identified as James Jennings, 48, of Bristol, for driving under the influence.
•  On Feb. 11 responded to Stage Road in North Ferrisburgh for a report of an accident involving a utility pole. Trooper Neary said she found that the driver of the car had left the scene of the accident, driven across two properties, and was intoxicated. She identified the driver as Brandon Bothwell, 23, of Charlotte. Police cited Bothwell for driving under the influence, careless and negligent driving, and leaving the scene of an accident.
•  On Feb. 12 stopped a four-wheeler traveling at an excessive speed on Greenbush Road in Ferrisburgh. Police cited the driver, identified as Patrick P. McCarthy, 21, of Ferrisburgh, for driving under the influence (third offense), driving with a criminally suspended license and driving carelessly and negligently.