ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police last week cited a Starksboro man for allegedly trying to take regulated drugs into the Marble Valley Regional Correctional Facility in Rutland.
Det. Trooper Michael Notte reported that on May 16 the Department of Corrections Rutland Field Supervisory Unit took 23-year-old Andrew Bissonette to the prison. During the entry process, correction officers conducted a routine search and located a small plastic bag containing marijuana belonging to Bissonette, Notte alleged.
Bissonette is currently serving a sentence for simple assault and possession of heroin. He is scheduled to answer the new charge in Rutland Superior Court, criminal division, on July 14. The maximum penalty for transporting marijuana into a place of detention is imprisonment of not more than six months or a fine not more than $500 or both.
Separately, Notte also reported that earlier that same day, May 16, a New Haven man was allegedly assaulted at the same prison.
Police said inmate Jolibin Massamba, 36, of Scranton, Pa., pursued the 25-year-old inmate from New Haven into his cell and poured hot coffee on his back, causing minor injuries that were treated at the medical unit at the facility. It is reported the reason for the attack was due to the New Haven man removing Massamba’s coffee from the microwave to cook his own food.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
•  On May 29 at 9:10 a.m. responded to a Route 7 accident involving a school bus and a dump truck. Police report that a 1997 Western Star dump truck was stopped on Route 7 attempting to make a left turn onto Campground Road in New Haven. A school bus driven by David W. Eighmey, 74, of Fair Haven approached from behind, and Eighmey reportedly lost control of the 2009 Freightliner Sunstar school bus. The vehicle traveled off the east side of Route 7 and came to rest in a muddy yard area. None of the 31 Poultney High School students on the bus were injured, nor were either of the drivers. Troopers were assisted at the scene by a Vermont Fish and Game Department staffer. A Department of Motor Vehicles inspector also responded to investigate the incident. The collision is still under investigation.
•  On May 29 at 4:41 p.m. stopped Chad Jerome, 23, of Bristol for allegedly driving 68 mph in a 40 mph zone on River Road in New Haven. Police cited Jerome for driving under the influence of alcohol.
•  On May 30 at 8:44 p.m. stopped a vehicle driven by Justin P. Malzac, 30, of Ripton for allegedly speeding on Lincoln Road in Ripton. He cited Malzac for DUI.
•  On May 30 at 11:45 p.m. stopped a car driven by 19-year-old Trevor Emilo of Bristol on West Salisbury Road in Salisbury for a defective equipment violation. During the stop the trooper reported that he found Emilo was in possession of pills for which he did not have a prescription. He cited Emilo for possession of a regulated substance.
•  On May 31 at 1:55 a.m. stopped a car driven by Laurie Wry, 53, of Middlebury for erratic driving on Elm Street in Middlebury. The trooper cited Wry driving under the influence of alcohol.
•  On May 31 stopped 47-year-old Clyde Brooks of Granville after observing him driving a ’91 Honda Civic on Route 107 in Royalton. The trooper reported that he knew Brooks had a suspended driver’s license because of numerous DUI convictions. He cited Brooks for driving with a suspended license, seventh offense.
•  On May 31 at 5:31 p.m. cited Casey Freeguard, 31, of Whiting for speeding, after he was observed driving 30 mph or more over the speed limit on Swamp Road in Cornwall, and for violation of conditions of release.
•  On June 2 at 9:30 a.m. responded to the Whiting General Store for the report of a threatening complaint. The trooper said his investigation showed that Alan N. White, 33, of Whiting was in the store using threatening and vulgar language toward the clerk as well as a patron of the store. The trooper located White at his home and cited him for disorderly conduct. He also issued White a no-trespass notice for the store.
•  On June 2 began investigating the theft of a stop sign, post and street sign from the intersection of Snake Mountain Road and Forrest Road in Bridport. The sign, valued at approximately $250, was stolen sometime over the weekend. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP New Haven at 1-802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
•  On June 2 were called to look into a case of vandalism at a seasonal camp in Orwell. Someone damaged a door at the camp by prying it open. Nothing was stolen from the camp and there was no interior vandalism. The estimated value of the door is approximately $500. Anyone with information is asked to contact VSP.