ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police report that an East Middlebury man led authorities on a chase through three Addison County towns early Sunday morning at a speed that topped out at 118 miles per hour.
Police cited Christopher Shores, 21, for excessive speed, driving under the influence, attempting to elude a police officer, grossly careless and negligent driving and reckless endangerment. This followed a high-speed chase that began about 1 a.m. Sunday on Route 116 in Bristol, where Shores was allegedly clocked doing 118 mph in a 50 mph zone.
The chase continued through Lincoln and ended when police finally got Shores to pull over his vehicle on North Branch Road in Ripton, according to VSP.
Shores provided police with a preliminary breath test that revealed a blood-alcohol content of 0.168, which is more than twice the legal limit for driving (0.08), according to VSP.
Shores was lodged at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility for lack of $10,000 bail, police said.
In other recent activity, Vermont State Police:
• On Dec. 31 at 7:52 a.m. were dispatched to a report of a possible motor vehicle crash on Route 116 in Bristol. Upon arrival, troopers found 24-year-old Henry Romp of Salisbury sleeping in his vehicle. Through investigation the troopers determined that Romp had crashed his vehicle during the night in Lincoln and pulled over in Bristol. Romp was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and transported to the state police barracks in New Haven for processing. Romp declined to give a breath sample and was cited for driving under the influence, refusal.
• Went to East River Road in Lincoln on Dec. 31 at approximately 11:37 a.m., where there was a motor vehicle crash in front of the Lincoln General Store. While on their way, troopers were told that one of the vehicles involved, being operated by 59-year-old Douglas Kehoe of Lincoln, had left the scene. As troopers were investigating, Kehoe returned to the scene. The officers discovered that Kehoe’s driving privilege in Vermont was under suspension criminally, and that the Department of Corrections had issued an arrest warrant for Kehoe.
The troopers took Kehoe into custody, processed him at the Bristol Police Department, cited him for driving with a criminally suspended license, and transported him to the Rutland Regional Correctional Facility.
• On Jan. 1 at approximately 8:40 p.m. received a report that a car had collided with a Bristol Rescue Squad emergency vehicle on Monkton Road in Bristol. Royce Dendler, 74, of Monkton told police that he was driving a 1990 Buick Century northbound on Monkton Road at approximately 30 mph, and that a vehicle travelling southbound sideswiped his Buick.
The trooper then met with John Lea of Bristol, who was driving the ambulance; Lea told police that he was travelling southbound at approximately 40 mph, when he noticed a northbound vehicle coming into his lane. Lea said he steered his vehicle over to give the vehicle more room, but the vehicle sideswiped the rescue vehicle. No injuries were sustained as a result of the collision, but both vehicles were moderately damaged. State police said they do not believe alcohol or drugs played a factor in the collision. No court action was planned.
• Went to a motor vehicle collision at the intersection of Route 7 and Monkton Road in Ferrisburgh on Jan. 2 at around 10:30 p.m. Before the trooper arrived, dispatch notified her that one of the vehicles involved had left the scene. The trooper located the vehicle on Squire Lane in Charlotte. A preliminary test of the driver’s breath showed a blood alcohol content of 0.222 percent; well over two-and-a-half times the legal limit. Police cited Jason Marshall, 23, of Middlebury for driving under the influence.
• At a little before 3 a.m. on Jan. 3 responded to a reported one-car crash on Route 116 in Bristol. The driver, identified as 33-year-old Kelly Husk of Starksboro, provided state police with a sample of his breath, which showed a blood alcohol content of 0.250 percent; more than three times the legal limit for driving. The trooper took Husk into custody and cited him for driving under the influence.
• On Jan. 3 announced they had made two arrests in the theft of boots from the Sensible Shoe store in Rutland that occurred on Dec. 29. Store owners told police that an unknown man and woman had entered their store that day, distracted a clerk, and stolen two pairs of Ugg brand boots. Investigation revealed that the couple were seen at Super Shoe earlier in the day inquiring about Ugg boots and sent down the road to Sensible Shoe.
Sensible Shoe employees reported to state police that in-store cameras captured the female, later identified as Candace Alberti, 33, of Rutland City walking out of the store and getting into a black sedan driven by the male. The store owner attempted to stop the vehicle and, he told police, was struck by the driver’s side mirror as the vehicle sped out of the parking lot. The store owner was not injured.
Sensible Shoe posted still images of the in-store video to a forum on Facebook, which helped state police investigators by generating multiple tips identifying the suspects. The man was later identified as Paul Voight, 47, of Brandon. Police cited Voight and Alberti for retail theft.
The investigation continues with more charges pending, police said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101. Information can also be submitted anonymously online at www.vtips.info or by texting “CRIMES” (274637) to Keyword: VTIPS.
• After investigating the September burglary of an Orwell residence, on Jan. 3 arrested Craig Tallman, 30, of Orwell and cited him for possession of stolen property in connection with the burglary. Police said Tallman had been in possession of jewelry stolen in the break-in.