VERMONT — Last week Vermont State Police said their investigation showed that a Ferrisburgh man and a Milton man were responsible for a two-month-long burglary spree crossing three counties.
Since December 2013, state police have received multiple reports of burglaries in Chittenden, Franklin and Lamoille counties, including the towns of Westford, Underhill, Jericho, Milton, Fletcher and East Fairfield. The items stolen and method of burglary revealed a pattern of crime.
Last Thursday, troopers took into custody and lodged at the Chittenden County Correctional Center Kyle Tetreault, 23, of Ferrisburgh and Scott Taylor, 20, of Milton.
Taylor was cited for nine counts of burglary and held for a lack of $100,000 bail.
Tetreault was cited for four outstanding Vermont warrants for sexual assault, petty larceny, unlawful trespass, careless and negligent driving, and a work crew violation. Tetreault was also held on a “failure-to-appear” warrant out of New Hampshire for felony possession of heroin. He is being held without bail. Burglary charges for Tetreault are pending.
The Vermont State Police, in cooperation with several other local agencies, have recovered many of the items stolen during the burglaries, including flat-screen televisions, computers, tools and jewelry; and police said they are working to return property to the victims.
This is still an active and ongoing investigation.
Meanwhile, a 73-year-old Brandon man was killed in a one-car crash on Route 14 in Calais on Jan. 29. Police report that Bruce Montminy Sr. was driving southbound on the road at a little before 11 a.m. on that Wednesday morning when, for an unknown reason, the vehicle traveled off the left side of the roadway and hit a utility pole.
Montminy was transported to the Central Vermont Hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Police said speed does not appear to be a factor, and Montminy was wearing his seatbelt.
The crash is still under investigation.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On Jan. 28 at 8:49 p.m. stopped a motor vehicle stop driven by Joshua Jerger, 26, on Plank Road in New Haven for speeding. Police cited Jerger for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On Jan. 29 at 1:45 p.m. responded to a reported citizen dispute in Leicester. After investigating, police said 38-year-old Kenneth Gilbert III, 38, had gone to a Leicester residence to confront a 22-year-old about an issue. There were numerous other family members present, as well as young children. Police said that while at the residence Gilbert broke an exterior window of the house with his fist and made threats. Police cited Gilbert for unlawful mischief and trespassing.
•  On Jan. 30 at 2:10 p.m. responded to a two-car crash on Monkton Road at the intersection with Hardscrabble Road in Monkton. Police said a 17-year-old driving a 2003 Ford Focus reported he looked down for a second and when he looked up he saw that the 2009 Chevrolet HHR in front of him had stopped to make a left turn. Since the teen did not have enough distance to stop, the Focus rear-ended the Chevy, causing extensive front-end damage to the Ford and some damage to the Chevy, though no injuries were reported. Drivers in both vehicles were wearing seat belts. The Bristol Fire Department also responded and provided traffic control.
•  On Feb. 1 began investigating a burglary complaint in Lincoln. Unknown individual(s) entered an unsecured garage and stole a five-gallon fuel can and fuel. The estimated value of the can and fuel is $30. Anyone with information on this 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. State police encourage citizens to lock their garages and homes.
•  On Feb. 1 at 10:30 a.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash on Route 116 in Bristol. Police said the driver of a 2007 Pontiac Vibe collided with the rear end of a 2000 Jeep Cherokee after the Jeep stopped for a turning vehicle on Route 116. Both vehicles had some damage, no one was injured.
•  On Feb. 1 at 1 p.m. Troy Hale, 18, of Brandon turned himself in to the Vermont State Police at the Shaftsbury barracks. Hale was charged with a misdemeanor count of false pretenses. Police said a former employer alleged that Hale improperly used a company credit card for personal purchases.
•  On Feb. 2 at 8:20 a.m. responded to a 911 hang-up call in Starksboro. After investigating, police cited Wayne Prim, 37, of Starksboro for domestic assault.
•  On Feb. 2 cited Zacharia Rusk, 18, of Middlebury for violation of conditions of release after he allegedly made contact with a 16-year-old with whom he was ordered not to have contact.
•  On the evening of Feb. 2 responded to two reports of vehicles hitting deer in and near Bristol.
The first incident occurred at 5:50 p.m. on Stoney Hill Road in Bristol. Melinda Marcelle, 26, of Bristol told police that that she and her young daughter were heading home when several deer ran across the road in front of the 2001 Subaru Legacy she was driving. The car struck the hind end of the third deer, airbags deployed, and the collision totaled the vehicle. Both Marcelle and her daughter were properly buckled in and were not injured.
Then, at approximately 7 p.m., the same trooper responded to another car vs. deer collision. The trooper reported that Patricia White, 73, of Bristol was driving a 2014 four-door Jeep southbound on Bristol Road in Monkton when a large doe ran out in front of her. White was unable to avoid the deer, which struck the front, passenger side of her new Jeep. No human injuries were reported.
The trooper said her investigation suggests that this collision could not have been avoided but no injuries were reported due to the vigilance of both the driver and the passenger that were traveling under the posted speed limit and were both wearing their seatbelts properly. The deer died upon impact, and it was given away to feed a local family.
State police remind community members to keep an eye out for animals crossing the roadways, especially at dawn and dusk.