MIDDLEBURY — Middlebury police last week assisted the Orlando (Fla.) Police Department in their investigation of a missing Middlebury man. John Hall, a Woodland Park resident, had first been reported missing from the Orlando area on Jan. 22.
Middlebury Police Chief Tom Hanley said Orlando police asked Middlebury police to try and contact Hall or anyone who knew of his whereabouts. Hall had rented a car in Orlando, which had not been returned on time, Hanley said. Orlando authorities stopped the rented vehicle, at which time its occupants fled on foot, according to Hanley. Orlando officers then went to Hall’s hotel room, but learned he had already checked out, Hanley said.
Hanley said Middlebury police Sgt. Vegar Boe went to Hall’s Middlebury address and found no one. The house is for sale and there was a few days’ worth of mail still in the mailbox, according to Hanley. Middlebury police left a business card and informed Orlando police, who reported Hall had been found on Jan.. 26.
The case is now considered closed, according to Hanley.
In other action last week, Middlebury police:
•Helped the Brandon Police Department with its investigation of a Middlebury suspect on Jan. 20.
•Assisted an East Main Street family with an out-of-control juvenile on Jan. 20.
•Investigated a report of a woman trying to sell a GPS unit in the Middlebury Beef parking lot off Route 7 South on Jan. 20. Police said the woman had run out of gas and was trying to raise some money to fill her tank. Police said the nonprofit organization Helping Overcome Poverty’s Effects aided the woman.
•Were informed on Jan. 21 that four chainsaws had gone missing from a Case Street garage on Jan. 21.
•Were informed that a woman had left the Middlebury Short Stop on Court Street without paying her entire gasoline bill on Jan. 22.
•Advised the Champlain Farms store on Court Street to seek a no-trespass order against a man who made unwanted advances toward a female employee on Jan. 22.
•Responded to a report of fireworks being set off in the North Pleasant Street area on Jan. 22. Police found, and confiscated, an unexploded firework at the scene.
•Ticketed a juvenile for underage drinking in the Nashua Lane neighborhood on Jan. 23.
•Assisted an East Main Street family that reported lewd conduct by an unknown Internet game player on Jan. 23. Police said the individual had tried to engage in a sexual conversation with the East Middlebury girl who was also playing the game. The investigation continues.
•Responded, with other Middlebury emergency responders, to a South Leno Lane home where a man had stopped breathing. Officials initiated CPR en route to Porter Hospital, where the man — Daniel Dubois, 32 — died. Police said no foul play was involved in Dubois’ death.
•Assisted Middlebury firefighters at the scene of a refrigerant leak at the Hannaford Supermarket on Jan. 23.
•Ticketed a minor for using a fake identification card in a failed attempt to buy alcohol from Hannaford Supermarket on Jan. 24.
•Assisted mental health officials in checking on the welfare of a North Pleasant Street resident on Jan. 24.
•Received a complaint from Blue Spruce Motel managers about a guest who had failed to pay for a portion of their stay on Jan. 24.
•Assisted Vermont State Police with a drunk driving investigation on Bristol’s Lower Notch Road on Jan. 24.
•Turned over, to Middlebury College Public Safety, a very drunk student who was being carried along Weybridge Street by other students on Jan. 24.
•Assisted a Piper Road resident in getting her father to leave her home on Jan. 25 after his dog began to get aggressive.
•Checked on the safety of a man on Jan. 25 who had been sending a local woman videos of himself allegedly harming himself. Police said the man was OK and reported he did not intend to harm himself but sent the videos as a way to “get back at his girlfriend.” Police warned him against engaging in such behavior.
•Responded to a report of a person “out of control” at the Eastview at Middlebury retirement community on Jan. 25. Police said a woman reported being “concerned over the welfare of her parents.” Police said they noted no signs of abuse during their response to the incident.
•Ticketed a man for driving with a suspended license on Munson Road on Jan. 25.
•Received a report about a missing local man who was found safe at his residence on Jan. 26.
•Were informed of the theft of some Canadian currency from a resident’s backpack on Jan. 26.
•Investigated the “possible attempted theft” of a purse from a downtown restaurant on Jan. 26. Police said the purse was subsequently located.
•Responded to a dispute between two East Main Street residents on Jan. 26. Police contacted the neighbors’ landlord.
•Told a man on Jan. 26 that he could not sleep overnight in his vehicle in Wright Park, citing local ordinances prohibiting overnight parking in municipal lots.