VERGENNES — Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel is warning area residents about a telephone scam after two complaints last week of callers posing as law enforcement officials and warning residents they faced arrest if they did not send payments. In at least one case, Merkel said a caller posed as a U.S. Treasury agent.
On July 28 a woman in Addison called to say a man with a foreign accent said her husband would be arrested if she did not send money. Merkel said he called the number that was provided and reached voice mail. On July 31 a Vergennes resident reported money was sent; Merkel said police were able to recall a portion, but not all, of the payment.
The chief said anyone receiving such calls should report them to police immediately and not send any money.
In other incidents between July 27 and Aug. 2, Vergennes police:
•  On July 27 looked unsuccessfully for a cabin cruiser that reportedly dumped waste into the Otter Creek basin.
•  On July 27 calmed two Otter View apartment neighbors arguing and warned the man involved not to threaten the woman involved.
•  On July 28 disposed of syringes found near an Otter View apartments Dumpster.
•  On July 28 returned, to its owner, a license plate that had been turned in by a citizen.
•  On July 28 helped the Vergennes Area Rescue Squad at a call at Northlands Job Corps.
•  On July 28 took a teenage girl to the Hill House in Middlebury because she was being excessively combative with her mother.
•  On July 29 took a report of a fender-bender at Otter View apartments.
•  On July 29 referred to the Addison County Special Investigations Unit a report from a student who attended Northlands in 2006 that another student had sexually violated her several times.
•  On July 30 cited Clayton Williams, 21, of New York City for simple assault for allegedly grabbing a dorm supervisor by the neck and threatening to hit the employee.
•  On July 30 helped persuade an elderly woman who had walked away from a nursing home to return.
•  On July 30 stopped a car on Main Street downtown with a smoking engine and called the fire department to help the motorist.
•  On July 30 helped Vermont State Police by responding to aid a disabled propane tanker on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh.
•  On July 31 helped a woman get into her locked car outside of Kinney Drug Store.
•  On July 31 conducted a background investigation on behalf of a U.S. Army recruiter.
•  On July 31 checked a report of the smell of burning marijuana at the John Graham Shelter and discovered burning lawn clippings.
•  On July 31 at a West Main Street traffic stop cited Nicholas Sardet, 35, of St. George with driving under the influence, test refusal, second offense, and failing to stop at a Stop sign.
•  On July 31 checked a report of dogs being left in a car at Shaw’s Supermarket but found no problem.
•  On Aug. 1 began investigating an alleged break-in and theft of medication at a North Street residence.
•  On Aug. 1 heard from Barre police that a resident of that town might have used the Internet to target an underage Vergennes teen for sex; city police referred the case to the Addison County Special Investigations Unit and the Department for Children and Families.
•  On Aug. 1 went to Basin Harbor Road in Panton on behalf of VSP to look for a suspicious vehicle; it was gone when they arrived.
•  On Aug. 1 at a South Maple Street traffic stop cited Nicole White, 29, of Tuscola, Ill., for DUI and failing to stop at a Stop sign.
•  On Aug. 2 helped VARS twice, once at the corner of Green and Main streets and once on Ice House Court.
•  On Aug. 2 responded to a report from Kinney Drugs of a belligerent customer at its drive-through window. The customer left before police arrived.
•  On Aug. 2 began looking for a driver a witness reported to have hit a crosswalk sign on New Haven Road.