ADDISON COUNTY — On May 11 Vermont State Police looked into a complaint from Panton.
Troopers report that Othoniel Deceano Bravo, 28, of Panton punched a co-worker the previous morning, and that the victim was treated for his injuries at Porter Hospital and released.
Police cited Deceano Bravo for aggravated assault.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On May 3 cited Middlebury resident and Marble Valley Correctional Facility inmate Ryan Phelps, 34, for possession of cocaine and transportation of a regulated drug into places of detention. VSP Detective Trooper Michael Notte reported that on May 1 Phelps was returned to the facility and placed in dry cell status where he was segregated from the population and observed by correctional staff to ensure he was not in possession of contraband. On May 3 a follow-up search of Phelps allegedly yielded approximately 10 grams of marijuana and less than a gram of cocaine that was packaged in what Notte said is known as a “slug.” A second slug was located and contained approximately 18 grams of regular smoking tobacco, Notte reported. Phelps is scheduled to answer these charges in Rutland Superior Court, criminal division, on July 13.
•  After a long investigation, on May 8 charged John Penwarden, 53, of Orwell with felony sex assault, four counts of possession of child pornography (one a felony, the other three misdemeanors); two felony counts of sexual exploitation of a child; and one felony count of possession of marijuana. He was released on $50,000 bail following his Monday arraignment, at which he pleaded innocent (see story on Page 3A).
•  On May 9 at 9:31 p.m. stopped a vehicle on Route 73 in Orwell after seeing it driving over the center line. The trooper said he saw that the driver, identified as 35-year-old Nicholas Parent of Orwell, showed signs of alcohol impairment, so he screened Parent for driving under the influence. A preliminary breath test showed that Parent’s blood alcohol content was 0.114 percent; the legal limit for driving is 0.08. The trooper cited Parent for DUI, second offense.
•  On May 10 at 2:10 a.m. stopped a vehicle on Green Street in Waltham for driving over the center line. Driver Brendon Carper, 26, of Colchester showed signs of alcohol impairment, according to police, but he refused all roadside testing. Carper was taken into custody and cited for DUI.
•  Are investigating the theft of a Husqvarna chainsaw from a residence on Fay Road in Goshen. The theft occurred sometime between May 5 and 10. The chainsaw is described as a 2014 orange Husqvarna, 20-inch 370 XP, and is thought to have been sold locally in the greater Brandon area. Anyone with information is asked to contact Trooper Armstrong at the New Haven Vermont state police barracks at 802-388-4919. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
•  On May 11 at just before 9 p.m. responded to Route 22A in West Haven for a series of crashes involving two tractor-trailers — one driven by a Waltham man.
Police reported that 48-year-old Harry Spear of Walden, N.Y., was driving a truck with a 53-foot trailer northbound on 22A when he lost control of his vehicle and left the east side of the roadway. Spear’s vehicle traveled approximately 380 feet off the roadway and struck a utility pole. The pole broke and the utility lines were displaced and hanging low over the roadway.
Several minutes later, 63-year-old Joseph Desautels of Waltham was driving a 1999 Peterbilt tractor towing a 48-foot trailer southbound on 22A at the same spot, and the trailer struck the low-hanging utility lines causing extensive damage to the trailer. As a result Desautels’ vehicle was disabled and partially blocked the southbound lane.
No one was injured in either crash.
Route 22A was temporarily closed while the vehicles were removed. The crash remains under investigation.
•  The Vermont State Police, in cooperation with the Green Mountain Club and their agency partners, is reminding those heading out onto Vermont’s hiking trails of the ever changing conditions a hiker may encounter this time of year, especially at higher elevations. As you follow trails into the mountains you can find yourself hiking in snow again despite green grass at the trailhead. Spring showers at lower elevations can turn into an all-too-familiar wintry mix of snow, sleet and rain in the hills. The long-lasting snowpack at higher elevation keeps the air temperatures cool, soaks your boots, and can make the trails very difficult to follow.
If hiking at higher elevations, it’s important that spring hikers continue to be prepared for winter conditions. Waterproof boots (not sneakers), extra layers of warm clothes, a headlamp, map and compass may become necessary for a safe and successful hike. Consider turning around when you hit snowpack if you are not properly equipped or if travel and route finding becomes more difficult.
Neil Van Dyke, search and rescue coordinator for the Department of Public Safety. reports that there were several search and rescue incidents last spring involving hikers who were not properly prepared for the conditions they found at higher elevations. State police remind hikers that these situations could have been avoided by simply turning around when snowy, icy conditions were encountered.