BRISTOL — A Bristol police district resident contacted police in July about a potential scam.
The resident on July 12 received a $1,900 check from New Bedford Symphony Orchestra of New Bedford, Mass., drawn on Sovereign Bank. The check was made out to the resident and attached to an enclosed letter from “Trans Financial Company (Lottery & Resource Management)” advising of a lottery winning in the amount of $250,000.
The letter requested $1,600 paid via Western Union in order to claim the $250,000 winnings.
Police contacted Sovereign Bank, which confirmed the issuing account is closed and the check will not clear. Police issued a fraud alert upon completion of the investigation.
In other activity in July and reported by Bristol Police Chief Kevin Gibbs recently, Bristol officers:
•  On July 5 received a report of a Nokia AT&T cell phone with a white hard case with blue trim lost during Bristol’s Fourth of July activities.
•  On July 9 at 12:18 p.m. were told that a maroon truck with a gray stripe was repeatedly speeding up and down Pleasant Street and failing to stop at stop signs. The area was monitored for about 30 minutes but the vehicle was not contacted.
•  On July 10 at 11:41 a.m. responded to West Street where a car owner found a window broken — apparently by a stone thrown from a lawn mower. Police advised the vehicle owner to contact the mowing service.
•  On July 10 at 12:40 p.m. responded to a West Pleasant Street residence for a pair of 911 hang-ups. Police learned that two teens had been involved in a dispute and one struck the other. The victim refused to give a statement; the other juvenile was taken away by an adult.
•  On July 10 at 3 p.m. a Benson woman reported she had lost a wallet somewhere in downtown Bristol. It was described as a raspberry-colored, leather wallet containing her license, food bank card, money, etc. No wallet fitting this description had been turned in to police.
•  On July 11 verified a vehicle identification number on a motorcycle.
•  On July 11 at 5:43 p.m. conducted a town contracted traffic patrol on Meehan Road. No violations were observed.
•  On July 12 between 6 and 7 a.m. watched for stop sign violations on Lincoln Road at Briggs Hill with one warning issued.
•  On July 12 around 7 p.m. conducted a foot patrol on Main Street. No problems were encountered.
•  On July 12 at 10:40 p.m. assisted Vermont State Police at a driving while under the influence stop on West Street by standing by the vehicle until arrival of a wrecker.
•  On July 13 at 11:34 a.m. conducted a contracted traffic patrol on Meehan Road. One warning issued for unsafe backing.
•  On July 13 at 12:03 p.m. investigated a two-car, no-injury motor vehicle crash at the intersection of West and North streets. Police determined that both drivers were at fault for passing on the right within 500 feet of an intersection in violation of state law.
•  On July 13 received a bag of books from a Lincoln resident who located them on Stony Hill Road. The owner was identified and contacted to retrieve them at the police department.
•  On July 13 at 2:18 p.m. conducted a contracted traffic patrol on Upper Notch Road. No tickets or warnings were issued.
•  On July 13 at 5:47 p.m. went to Garfield Street for a possible intoxicated pedestrian. Police found the person and determined the person was not intoxicated and was waiting for a ride.
•  On July 13 at 6:21 p.m. received a backpack that was found at the park near the one-lane bridge on Route 116. Police determined that the backpack was related to a VSP case and turned it over to state police.
•  On July 13 at 9:11 p.m. went to West Pleasant Street for a reported female walking down the street shouting. Police warned the woman for making too much noise at night.
•  On July 14 at 2:17 p.m. started investigation into a report from a town employee that a town credit card had a fraudulent use charged to it.
•  On July 14 AT 1:50 p.m. received a report from a citizen concerned about speeding vehicles on Mountain Street. No identifying information was provided for the suspect vehicles. Directed patrolS were conducted with no violations noted.
•  On July 14 received new information regarding ongoing drug activity within the police district. Follow-up is being conducted.
•  On July 15 at 7:45 a.m. conducted a town-contracted traffic detail, and issued two tickets for speeding.
• On July 15 received a report from a Bristol man who reported his vehicle was damaged in an apparent hit and run while it was parked on Airport Drive during the fireworks on July 3. The caller was instructed to report the incident to his insurance company.
•  On July 15 at 11:52 a.m. a young man turned in cash he found at Bartlett Falls. It was later returned to its owner.
•  On July 15 an officer attended domestic violence training as required by the Vermont Criminal Justice Training Council.
•  On July 15 at 3:52 p.m. logged a report from a Ferrisburgh woman who reported being harassed by an ex-employer after receiving an item in the mail. The woman was referred to the U.S. Postal Service inspector and a civil attorney.
•  On July 15 at 4:28 p.m. responded to a report of a live power line down on East Street. Traffic was prevented from passing the location. Police requested that the Bristol Fire Department set up a safe detour until Green Mountain Power could remove or repair the line. Two-lane travel was restored along with power to one home at 6:34 p.m.