ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police were called to look into an assault that occurred at the Big Wheel gas station on Route 116 South in Bristol on Monday, March 31, at approximately 5:30 p.m.
Daniel Devoid, 20, of Bristol, reported that he prepaid for his gas and was about to fuel his pickup truck when a man driving a green Subaru pulled up at the opposite side of the pump, exited his vehicle, and approached Devoid. The man, unidentified as of Tuesday, had a short conversation with Devoid and then punched him in the face. The two men separated and the male driving the green Subaru drove away.
Troopers have several leads, including videotape evidence that has been sent for analysis.
Anyone with knowledge of this incident is asked to call Vermont State Police at the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
This occurred the day after VSP, Bristol police and Vergennes police responded to an armed robbery at the Big Wheel. According to police, Bristol resident Joshua Martell, 28, brandished a “large knife” and demanded money from the owner, was chased into the woods and captured by police. A full story on this incident is in the A section of this edition.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
•  On March 25 at approximately 7:30 p.m. responded with Vergennes police to a two-car crash at the intersection of Route 7 and Monkton Road in Ferrisburgh. Police said their preliminary investigation indicated that a blue Honda Civic driven by Shirley Muzzi, 18, of Vergennes was eastbound on Monkton Road and attempting to make a left turn onto Route 7 toward Burlington, when it was struck by a westbound, green Subaru Forester driven by Barbara Kohler, 65, of Addison. Police said last week that they were still investigating, but it appears that Muzzi failed to yield to Kohler and was ultimately struck by the Forester.
Muzzi and her two teenage passengers were transported by Vergennes Area Rescue Squad and Charlotte Rescue Squad to Fletcher Allen Health Care for treatment and evaluation of injuries to an eye, a knee and a concussion. Kohler was transported by ambulance to Porter Hospital for soreness in her chest and back.
Both cars were badly damaged.
This crash remains under investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed the accident is asked to contact the state police at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
•  On March 27 at 7:13 a.m. responded to a one-vehicle crash on Route 74 in Shoreham. Alexander Goss, 23, of Cornwall told police that he was driving a 2004 Honda CRV on Route 74 and he swerved to avoid a vehicle that was hugging the center of the road. Police said after Goss lost control of his Honda it struck the guardrails on the opposite side of the road and sustained moderate front-end damage. Goss was taken to Porter Medical Center for evaluation for lacerations and knee pain. Speed did not appear to be a factor in the crash. Police said the weather was clear and the road was dry.
•  On March 27 received a theft complaint. The 22-year-old complainant told police he went to pick up his four wheeler from a farm off Route 22A in Addison where he had previously been employed at and it was missing. The four wheeler is described as a red Honda, and was last seen around March 21 by the farmer at the farm. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP.
•  On March 27 at 8:50 p.m. stopped a car driven by Gavin Gearwar, 19, of Leicester for driving at 73 mph in a 40 mph zone on Swinington Hill Road in Leicester. Gearwar was cited for speeding.
•  On March 29 at 8:10 p.m. cited John Burke, 65, of Putnam Station, N.Y., for driving under the influence on Route 17 in Addison.
•  On March 30 at 2:36 a.m. stopped a motor vehicle on Stoney Hill in Bristol for a traffic infraction. Police identified the driver as Jessica Popp, 26, of Lincoln. The trooper cited Popp for driving under the influence of intoxicants and driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On March 30 began investigating a suspicious incident that occurred around 3 a.m. that morning. Robert Reed, 54, of Valatie, N.Y., was driving a tractor-trailer unit northbound on Route 22A in Bridport, and he reported seeing headlights from a truck that appeared to his left. Suddenly the driver’s side window of his truck was blown in and Reed believes it was shot out by someone in that truck as he passed by. Anyone who has information on this incident is asked to contact VSP.
•  On March 31 alerted the public that the town of Brandon had closed due roads due to high water: Long Swamp Road from the intersection with Short Swamp Road to the Sudbury town line, and Short Swamp Road from the intersection with Long Swamp Road to the Hack Saw Mill.
• On March 31 looked into a complaint of a theft from a Lemon Fair Road residence in Cornwall. The complainant said someone stole valuable porcelain items and books from the home. Anyone with information on this is asked to contact VSP.
•  On March 31 received a theft complaint from Snake Mountain Road in Weybridge. The person told police that someone stole a Husqvarna chainsaw from the property sometime after March 22. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP.
•  On March 31 at 6:05 p.m. responded to a one-car crash on Shellhouse Mountain Road in Ferrisburgh. Police said 17-year-old Stephen Lowry, city of residence unknown, was driving a 2000 Ford Taurus wagon eastbound on the road when the car left the roadway and collided with a tree. The vehicle was totaled. Lowry was entrapped in the vehicle. The trooper said members of the Ferrisburgh Fire Department worked quickly and efficiently to free Lowry from the vehicle; he was then transported to Fletcher Allen Health Care to be treated for multiple injuries. This accident remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police.
•  On March 31 cited Ethan McArdle, 33, of Brandon for first-degree arson and reckless endangerment for allegedly starting a fire at his Carver Street home in Brandon that morning. See full story in the A section of this edition.