VERGENNES — Vergennes police investigated two assaults this past weekend and filed charges against a Northlands Job Corps student in one case.
City police cited Sherrelle N. Smith, 19, of Rochester, N.Y., for aggravated assault on March 1 and lodged her at the Chittenden County Correctional Center after Smith allegedly attacked a fellow female Northlands student.
Police allege Smith hit the victim with a stick and punched, kicked and kneed the victim in the head. Police said Smith was upset because she believed the victim had gossiped about her to other students and had informed on her to Northlands security.
The other incident occurred at the City Limits tavern in the early-morning hours of March 3. Vergennes police were told there were two injured women, and police learned they had been fighting and had suffered only minor injuries, most notably bleeding scratches. Police are still investigating the circumstances.
Police also said they will be running extra drunk-driving patrols this coming weekend as part of a cooperative effort with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Vergennes. While police are on the roads, they and club members and staff will be emphasizing that adults should not hold underage drinking parties at their homes as part of the larger “Parents Who Host Lose the Most” campaign.
In other incidents between Feb. 25 and March 3, Vergennes police:
•  On Feb. 25 attended an Addison County Prevention Partnership meeting at the Vermont State Police barracks in New Haven and helped brainstorm ideas on how to help local teens with substance-abuse problems.
•  On Feb. 25 went on WVTK-FM and discussed ways homeowners could protect their properties against burglars.
•  On Feb. 25 searched unsuccessfully for a suspicious vehicle on Bowman Road.
•  On Feb. 25 went along with firefighters to check out a report of a propane gas odor at a Main Street apartment building; no problem was found.
•  On Feb. 25 looked into a complaint by an East Street apartment resident that other tenants were making unwanted remarks through the walls; this complaint was unfounded.
•  On Feb. 25 were told that someone had tried to break into a Green Mountain Power storage shed on Mechanic Street.
•  On Feb. 26 cited Erik Hauser, 34, of Hinesburg for driving with a suspended license and defective equipment and without insurance and registration.
•  On Feb. 26 joined with Vergennes Union High School administrators in counseling a 13-year-old student who allegedly smoked marijuana on a school bus.
•  On Feb. 26 helped a motorist get into a locked car on Monkton Road.
•  On Feb. 26 began investigation of the theft of $700 from a Main Street apartment.
•  On Feb. 28 sent the department Drug Recognition Expert to help VSP with a case in Bristol.
•  On Feb. 28 looked into the welfare of a Walker Avenue resident and discovered he had been hospitalized; police reported the news to the callers who had requested they check the man’s welfare.
•  On Feb. 28 and March 1 twice dealt with a male VUHS student who allegedly threatened school staff after they asked to search him for tobacco products and drugs. On Feb. 28, he said he would not do it again, but police said the behavior occurred again the next day. Police said the student was suspended and put on a counseling program.
•  On March 1 received a tip about illegal drug activity.
•  On March 1 responded to separate complaints about the smell of marijuana and loud music coming from Hillside Acres apartments, but found no problems upon arrival.
•  On March 1 helped the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad deal with an irate elderly woman who was struggling with a medication issue.
•  On March 2, called VARS to help a City Limits patron who had fallen while dancing and broken an arm.
•  On March 2 cited Lindsay Smith, 21, of New Haven for driving under the influence of alcohol after a vehicle she was driving near the intersection of School and Green streets allegedly nearly collided with a city police cruiser. Police allege Smith’s blood-alcohol content tested at 0.166 percent, about double the legal limit of 0.08.
•  On March 2 found four hypodermic needles near the People’s Bank parking lot on Monkton Road.
•  On March 2 directed traffic at the site of the state cheerleading championship at VUHS.
•  On March 2 tried, but failed, to find a dog reported running loose on Green Street.
•  On March 2 looked unsuccessfully for a Walker Avenue resident on behalf of Burlington police.
•  On March 2 helped Bristol police with a drug investigation.
•  On March 3 tried unsuccessfully to deliver a message to a White Street resident on behalf of VSP.