VERGENNES — Vergennes police are seeking information about persistent vandalism at the department’s new Main Street headquarters: Chief George Merkel said there have been four incidents in which sheetrock screws have been tossed onto the station’s driveway, most recently on July 24.
Merkel said the screws have caused one flat tire, but more importantly that damage to cruiser tires poses a safety hazard for both police officers and citizens, as well as creates costs for Vergennes taxpayers.
Merkel asks that anyone who has any information about the incidents — or who might have seen anything, including suspicious activity around the station or even possibly cars slowing down at night while driving by the site — to please contact Vergennes police at 877-1152.
Between July 14 and 27, Vergennes police also:
•  On July 14 issued subpoenas to a Hillside Acres apartment resident on behalf of the Addison County State’s Attorney’s Office.
•  On July 14 cited Christopher Russin, 49, of Vergennes for violating an abuse-prevention order; police allege Russin tried to climb through an apartment window and violated a distance provision.
•  On July 14 were told there were juveniles smoking behind a North Street barn; police said they smelled marijuana and warned several youths.
•  On July 14 issued a $6,602 ticket to a tractor-trailer operator for driving an overweight vehicle on Monkton Road.
•  On July 15 helped Vermont State Police at the city station; the department’s Drug Recognition Expert determined a VSP suspect was under the influence of a depressant and marijuana.
•  On July 16 responded to a report of youths drinking at the city pool and issued four sets of court diversion paperwork, three for consumption of alcohol and one for providing alcohol.
•  On July 17 helped VSP by handling a two-car accident on Panton Road in Panton.
•  On July 17 helped the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad at a South Maple Street call.
•  On July 17 issued a ticket for possession of drug paraphernalia to a Northlands Job Corps student, who was then dismissed from the program.
•  On July 17 looked into an incident of vandalism at a First Street home; a woman said someone had dented the side of her pickup truck parked there.
•  On July 18 issued a $410 ticket to a tractor-trailer operator for driving an overweight vehicle on Main Street.
•  On July 18 backed up VSP at the scene of a Panton domestic assault.
•  On July 18 and 19 checked the welfare of Walker Avenue residents; in both cases they were found to be fine.
•  On July 19 cited William Devine, 43, of Vergennes for driving under the influence, second offense, after stopping his car on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh.
•  On July 19 dealt with an ongoing dispute between a woman and her ex-boyfriend.
•  On July 20 issued a citation to a First Street juvenile on behalf of the Addison County Sheriff’s Department.
•  On July 20 tried unsuccessfully to find a car after its driver left Champlain Farms without paying for gas.
•  On July 21 advised a Second Street resident on how to obtain a relief-from-abuse order from Family Court.
•  On July 21 took a report from a city business of a fraudulent phone call from someone posing as a Green Mountain Power employee; police notified the attorney general’s office and the power company.
•  On July 21 cited James T. O’Brien, 18, of Ferrisburgh for DUI under 18 and issued him a ticket for being a minor consuming alcohol, actions taken after responding to a report of cars being driven unsafely in the city pool parking lot at about 8 p.m.
•  On July 22 calmed parents arguing in the city park over child custody and facilitated the child exchange.
•  On July 22 helped VARS at a Green Street call.
•  On July 23 advised a South Maple Street resident to obtain a no-stalking order and contacted an out-of-town agency to issue a no-trespass order on her behalf.
•  On July 24 and 26 received tips about illegal drug activity.
•  On July 24 helped VARS on Route 7 in New Haven.
•  On July 25 began investigating the theft of meat valued at $500 from Graze on Green Street.
•  On July 25 told the owner of a boat that had exceeded the permitted docking time at the city docks to move the boat.
•  On July 26 helped VSP by checking out a report of metal being taken from a Panton home and being loaded into a truck; police said the case remains under investigation.
•  On July 26 cited Tara Dosado, 41, of Essex Junction for DUI after stopping her car on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh, an action taken after being told to be on the lookout for a car being driven erratically.
•  On July 27 began investigating an alleged sex offense on North Street.
•  On July 27 backed up Middlebury police at a fight on Leno Lane in East Middlebury.