ADDISON COUNTY — The Vermont State Police at the New Haven barracks last week cited local men in two separate domestic violence cases that were initiated by law enforcement authorities in Chittenden County.
Local troopers, at the request of the Chittenden County State’s Attorney’s office, investigated a domestic assault incident that occurred in Panton during late June to early July 2013. Police said their investigation showed that Damian C. Strona, 22, of Panton applied a choke hold around the victim’s neck from behind on two separate occasions causing the victim to go unconscious temporarily. At the time Strona was on active conditions of release from jail.
On Jan. 23 troopers cited Strona for two counts of aggravated domestic assault and one count of violation of conditions of release.
Separately, on Jan. 26 at 4:35 a.m. troopers took Scott Messenger, 23, of Starksboro into custody, cited him for aggravated domestic assault and lodged him at the Chittenden County Correctional Center. Bail was denied. Local troopers did this after the Williston Police Department came into contact with the victim of the alleged assault.
In other recent activity, state police:
•On Jan. 20 at 9:15 p.m. responded to a one-car rollover crash on Bristol Road in Monkton. Police report that Cora LeClair, 24, of Hinesburg was driving a 2001 Ford Escape northbound when she lost control of the car and crashed into a ditch on the west side of the road. Police described the road conditions as clear. LeClair, who was wearing a seatbelt, was taken to Porter Hospital for evaluation of arm pain.
•On Jan. 21 at 11:41 p.m. stopped a car on West Salisbury Road in Salisbury for a license plate violation and cited Ronald Blakeslee, 27, of Brandon for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•On Jan. 22 at 5:47 p.m. cited a Bristol teen for speeding on Lower Notch Road in Bristol. Troopers said they clocked the driver at 67 mph in a 35 mph zone. The trooper identified the driver as a “Bristol man” but withheld the name of the person cited; Sgt. Steve McNamara said that VSP did not release the name in its initial report because the driver was a minor and the state’s attorney could charge the person as a juvenile, in which case the name would be legally kept confidential.
•Also on Jan. 22, at 6:52 p.m., the same trooper stopped someone he identified as “a New Haven man” and cited him for speeding — also 67 mph in a 35 mph zone, but this time on Plank Road in New Haven. McNamara said the driver again was a minor and could be charged as a juvenile and have his name withheld. He said it was unusual for two such incidents to occur so close together.
•The same trooper stopped and cited a third driver for speeding that evening — Jan. 22 — this time at 7:23 p.m. He cited Daniel Quattrocci, 46, of Lincoln for driving 70 mph in a 35 mph zone on Plank Road in New Haven.
•On Jan. 24 at 1:01 a.m. stopped a motor vehicle on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh for a traffic violation and cited the driver, identified as Daniel Rutledge, 25, of Jacksonville, Fla., for driving under the influence of alcohol.
•On Jan. 23 at 11 p.m. responded to a single-vehicle crash on Davis Road in Monkton; police said the road was covered in snow and ice. The driver of the minivan had fled the scene by the time police arrived. Police later identified the driver as Angelique Madrigal, 18, of Bristol, and they found her at her residence. They cited Madrigal for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and careless and negligent driving.
•On Jan. 24 reported that they had arrested Thomas J. Coleman, 18, of Bristol and cited him for being in possession of stolen property, a felony. Police said Coleman had a 2005 Blue Yamaha Bruin 350cc 4X4 four-wheeler that had been stolen from the Moonlit Alpaca Farm in Cornwall this past July. The four-wheeler, valued at approximately $2,500, was returned to its owner.
•On Jan. 25 responded to a two-car crash on Burpee Road in Bristol. Police said a 16-year-old driver lost control of the 2004 Subaru Legacy he was driving and collided head-on with a 2009 GMC Sierra, causing moderate damage to both vehicles. The trooper said neither speed nor impairment were factors in the crash, and snowy road conditions were. State police were assisted by the Bristol fire and police departments and the Bristol Rescue Squad.
•On Jan. 25 said they were looking for the person who drove away from the Short Stop gas station in North Ferrisburgh that evening at 7:25 p.m. without paying for gasoline. The trooper reported that a red GMC Sierra truck was driven by a single, white male wearing a black jacket and hooded sweatshirt, and that he gassed up the truck, cleaned the windows and then left the store without paying for the gasoline. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Armstrong at the New Haven Police barracks at 802-388-4919.
•On Jan. 24 looked into a report of a forced-entry burglary into a home off Jim Dwyer Road in Starksboro. Investigation suggested that the offender(s) entered through a broken front window. Anyone with information on this incident 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.
•On Jan. 26 at 11:12 p.m. cited David Fleming, 38, of Bristol for driving with a criminally suspended license on South Street in Bristol.
•On Jan. 26 at approximately 7:55 a.m. responded to Route 116 in Starksboro for a one-car crash. Police said the driver lost control of the 2001 Jeep Cherokee he was driving on the slippery road and struck a guardrail. No one was injured.
•On Jan. 26 at approximately 9:05 a.m. responded to a one-car crash on Greenbush Road in Ferrisburgh. Police said Scott A. Botala Sr., 50, of Vergennes was driving a 2000 Dodge Stratus southbound on Greenbush Road when he struck a utility pole head-on. The operator and a juvenile passenger were extracted from the vehicle and transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care. The vehicle sustained major damage.
•On Jan. 27 at 2:28 p.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 7 at the intersection with Route 17 in New Haven. Police report that Susan Provost Grant, 25, of Middlebury was driving a Kia Sol northbound behind a Peterbuilt truck driven by Ronald Berry, 52, of Bristol. The truck began to move toward the center of the roadway as Berry prepared to turn right onto Route 17 East. Apparently thinking the truck would turn left, the Kia attempted pass on the right side; as the truck turned right it struck the passing vehicle.
Police said they later discovered the blinker had been activated on the truck at the time of the accident, however the right rear blinker was not functioning properly.
There were no injuries reported.