Uncategorized

Bristol Police Log for March 17: Bristol police deal with variety of incidents in a busy January

BRISTOL — The Bristol Police Department dealt with several dog incidents during the month of January.
Police Chief Kevin Gibbs recently released a log of January activity that shows that an officer found two dogs wandering on North Street near Fitch Avenue on Jan. 1. The dogs wandered back to their home and the officer warned the owner about letting the dogs run free.
Then on Jan. 9 an officer responded to a Munsill Avenue residence for a citizen dispute over the ownership of a dog. The officer referred the parties to small claims court.
Police looked into an anonymous call on Jan. 19 reporting an issue regarding a dog at a Mountain Street residence. The complainant said the dog was outside without shelter, food or water and left on a lead line that was wrapped around a post preventing the dog from freely moving. Police went over and found the dog was on a lead line that was wrapped around a post and the water dish was frozen. The dog was taken to the pound and the owner was notified.
Bristol police conducted 13 town-contracted patrols outside the police district during the month, including on Lincoln Road, Monkton Road, Burpee Road, Hewitt Road, Route 116 South and River Road. On these patrols officers issued 14 speeding tickets, two tickets for stop sign violations, one ticket for driving with a suspended license and several warnings.
On eight occasions during January, Bristol police were contracted to provide security for Mount Abraham Union High School basketball games. During one such detail on Jan. 6, police issued two tickets for passing a stopped school bus and one warning for parking in a fire lane; officers also posted a note on a vehicle in a parking lot alerting the owner that an inspection was needed.
Bristol police officers also engaged in several training activities in January, including:
•  On Jan. 11 and 12 an officer attended management communications training in Burlington.
•  On Jan. 15 an officer attended training in the use of the VT-Alert System; the system will enable town officials to make notifications to the public of emergencies and other critical public information.
•  On Jan. 27 two off-duty officers attended mandatory 2015 EMS Protocol training at the Bristol Rescue Squad to maintain EMS certification.
•  Jan. 27 an officer attended a three-hour training at the Vermont Forensic Laboratory in the field testing and packaging of drug evidence.
In other action in January, Bristol police:
•  Assisted Vermont State Police in locating a district resident on Jan. 1.
•  On Jan. 2 went to Maplefields to help a citizen having difficulty with a lock on their gas tank.
•  Assisted state police with a pursuit that started on Lower Notch Road on Jan. 3; Bristol police were unable to catch up.
•  On Jan. 3 saw a vehicle doing donuts in the Mount Abraham Union High School parking lot and issued three tickets.
•  On Jan. 4 began investigating an injury discovered by the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner during the course of an autopsy.
•  On. Jan. 4 notified a resident of a check written to a local business and returned for insufficient funds. In following up with the business, police learned that the check was paid without incident.
•  At a little before 8 a.m. on Jan. 5 responded to a call on West Street reporting persons missing from the caller’s truck. Police found the caller, discovered that there was an underlying medical issue and said no one was missing or in danger. The officer gave the complainant a courtesy ride home.
•  Served a no-trespass notice on a district resident on behalf of a West Street business on Jan. 5.
•  On Jan. 5 at 11:30 a.m. responded to a two-vehicle crash in the Mount Abe front parking lot. Two vehicles collided when one vehicle was backing from parking and a second vehicle was backing to park. No injuries were reported and both vehicles were still drivable. No court action was taken.
•  On Jan. 6 received information from a Main Street resident that damage had been done to their vehicle as it was parked. A report was requested for insurance reporting purposes.
•  On Jan. 6 at 3:15 p.m. presented an abbreviated ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) Training to staff at Bristol Elementary School. The one-hour presentation showed options to keep students and staff safe in the event of a violent intruder at the school. Additional follow-up to the training was discussed during a question period at the end of the training.
•  Responded to a minor three-car crash near Merchants Bank on Jan. 6. No injuries were reported.
•  Investigated damage to a vehicle parked in a Pine Street parking lot. The vehicle was found damaged on the front passenger side fender and wheel well after being parked in the lot between 1 and 2 p.m. on Jan. 6. Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Bristol Police Department at 453-2533.
•  Responded to Monkton Road at a little before 5 p.m. on Jan. 8 for a report of an injured deer. The man told police he had hit the deer on his way to work earlier in the day and reported it, but Vermont Fish and Wildlife officials had not responded. After consulting with Fish and Wildlife officials, the officer euthanized the deer.
•  Checked a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on North Street on Jan. 8, but did not find the vehicle.
•  Conducted quarterly Sex Offender Registry checks on five district residents on Jan. 9 and found all to be in compliance with the law.
•  On Jan. 10 at 1:12 p.m. received a report that a tree had fallen across the road on Church Street, blocking the road. The Bristol road crew removed the tree and Green Mountain Power was called because the tree was on power lines.
•  Responded to MAUHS on Jan. 13, when a student reportedly threatened staff and broke a window. Juvenile court action is pending.
•  On Jan. 13 received a report from the U.S. Department of Justice of multiple sales or other disposition of pistols and revolvers from a local firearms dealer. Police said they encountered no issues.
•  On Jan. 13 assisted Rutland City Police Department by attempting to locate a female subject at a West Street residence. Officers found that the female no longer lived there.
•  On Jan. 14 received a report from a Lincoln resident who said an aggressive driver followed her from Lincoln into Bristol. The next day the woman discovered damage to her vehicle, but it was unknown if the aggressive driver had anything to do with the damage, so police planned no action.
•  Responded on Jan. 15 to a Mountain Street apartment where a reportedly intoxicated male was reporting a medical emergency. The man was suffering from issues related to his drinking and was transported to Porter Medical Center by the Bristol Rescue Squad without incident.
•  Investigated a three-vehicle crash in the parking lot of Maplefields on West Street on Jan. 15 at 8:10 p.m. The crash resulted in minor damage but no injuries.
•  Investigated a two-car motor vehicle crash on Maple Street at 2 a.m. on Jan. 16. Officers cited Ronald Sweeten, 62, of Colchester for driving under the influence and issued him a ticket for texting while driving.
•  On Jan. 16 at 11:18 p.m. responded to a Maple Street apartment with the Bristol Fire Department for a carbon monoxide detector activation and a resident feeling ill. When police arrived the caller had exited the apartment with his family. The caller had tried to make contact with the landlord, who lived in the adjoining apartment, but had been unsuccessful. The officer was able to make contact with the landlord and found them OK. The fire department checked the apartment and found no CO reading.
•  At 7 a.m. on Jan. 18 responded to a one-car crash with air bag deployment. The vehicle was found to have skidded off snow covered roads into a telephone pole across from Crescent Street on North Street. The vehicle had to be towed from the scene due to damage. The driver reported minor injury.
•  On Jan. 18 got a request from district residents asking that police check their house while they were out of town.
•  At midnight on Jan. 19 enforced the winter parking ban. The owner of the vehicle in question arrived after the towing company hooked the vehicle. The vehicle was released after the towing company was paid and parking ticket paid.
•  On Jan. 19 contacted a person who had used a check with insufficient funds to pay a bill to the town. Payment was made in full that day.
•  On Jan. 19 received a report that a man arrived at a Bristol business armed with a handgun. The man was noted to have a handgun in a holster when he took off his coat; he did not draw the weapon or threaten to. The officer told the complainant that there was no law prohibiting openly carrying a handgun and was advised of other handgun restrictions.
•  On Jan. 20 at 8:24 a.m. responded to a complaint on West Street that a vehicle was drifting into oncoming lanes of traffic. The officer found the vehicle and the elderly male driver was attempting to clear and defrost the windows. The officer assisted the old man in clearing his windows and the driver continued on his way.
•  On Jan. 21 responded to Mount Abe, where a student had reportedly left campus, but had returned by the time police arrived. The officer stood by until the arrival of a parent.
•  On Jan. 21 met with students involved in an incident involving harassing Instagram messages. Police advised the receiver of the messages how to respond to and resolve such communications.
•  On Jan. 21 were told by a Hague, N.Y., woman that a Budweiser beer truck had backed into the rear, driver’s side of her car. A report was taken for insurance purposes.
•  On Jan. 21 at 10:20 p.m. received an anonymous complaint of someone smoking marijuana on the porch outside a Main Street bar. Upon arrival police noted no subjects outside, although there was a large crowd in the establishment. The bartender was notified of the complaint.
•  Logged a report on Jan. 22 that a Bristol man had lost his wallet in the area of Shaw’s supermarket. Police took his contact information in the event the wallet is recovered.
• Conducted a public awareness presentation at Holley Hall on Internet/smart phone safety on Jan. 22. Another presentation is planned for April.
•  Helped EMS responders with a female having a seizure at Mount Abe on Jan. 22. Middlebury Regional EMS transported the subject.
•  On Jan. 24 at 2:26 p.m. responded to the Living Well Care Home on Maple Street after the Bristol Rescue Squad had been dispatched to help a man who was having difficulty breathing, had subsequently stopped breathing and was now deceased. Investigation between police and the assistant medical examiner determined the death was not suspicious in nature.
•  On Jan. 25 looked into a report of suspicious, potentially drug-related activity in the area of Airport Drive; no one was located.
•  On Jan. 25 received a report from a Vergennes woman that her car was damaged while parked in the Rite-Aid parking lot between 8 and 11 a.m. that day. Red paint transfer was noted on her vehicle, which sustained minor damage.
•  On Jan. 25 at 10:30 p.m. assisted state police with a report of multiple gunshots heard in the area of River Road and Halpin Road. A white vehicle was reported leaving the area toward Bristol. Bristol police did not find the vehicle but did locate several shell casings.
•  On Jan. 26 responded to a Harvey Road residence at the request of state police to assist with a reported intoxicated male subject. Bristol police spoke with the male, who was ultimately observed and transported by Bristol Rescue Squad.
•  On Jan. 27 prepared a truancy notice for an MAUHS student failing to attend school by missing more than 31 days this school year. If attendance does not improve following notice, court action will be taken.
•  On Jan. 28 an officer spent time at Bristol Elementary School working with staff on truancy and bullying matters. Principal Sandy Jump invited the department to re-open an office at the school to begin providing resource services.
Chief Kevin Gibbs reports that Bristol PD has two certified School Resource Officers and had a space at the school for several years during the time DARE Education was ongoing. Budget issues and space needs by the school forced the closing of that office.
The new office at the elementary school has been named the Bristol Police Department SPACE (Somewhere Police And Children Engage).
•  On Jan. 28 responded to a minor crash in the parking lot of Bristol Beverage on Prince Lane. Damage was minor and no injuries were reported.
•  On Jan. 28 received a call from a district resident who expressed concern about the drug use of an acquaintance. The resident has not been reached and may be avoiding contact since first calling.
•  On Jan. 29 assisted Bristol Elementary staff with a bullying situation. A meeting was held with parents and students involved and a resolution plan was developed.
•  On Jan. 29 Sgt. Crowe spoke with TV reporter Staci DaSilva of Fox22/Local44 about the Property Inspection Program.
•  At 1 p.m. on Jan. 29 assisted Bristol Elementary School with a lockdown drill. Few problems were encountered. The officer met with teachers and students informally.
•  On Jan. 29 got a report that a minor child had left a residence without permission. The child returned prior to law enforcement intervention.
•  Jan. 29 at 10:49 p.m. stopped a car on North Street for a registration violation. The driver of the vehicle had a suspended license, as did all passengers. The officer detected the odor of marijuana and, with consent, searched the vehicle. The officer found and seized marijuana, bongs, a grinder and a scale. Police issued tickets for possession of marijuana and the vehicle was towed for lack of licensed driver.
•  On Jan. 30 responded to Holley Hall for an alarm activation. Police found that people preparing for an event had opened the back door looking for a dressing room for the event.
•  On Jan. 31 conducted a home inspection of a district residence at the request of the homeowner. Recommendations were made to provide more safety and security.

Share this story:

More News
Uncategorized

Bernard D. Kimball, 76, of Middlebury

MIDDLEBURY — Bernard D. Kimball, 76, passed away in Bennington Hospital on Jan. 10, 2023. … (read more)

News Uncategorized

Fresh Air Fund youths returning to county

The Fresh Air Fund, initiated in 1877 to give kids from New York City the opportunity to e … (read more)

Obituaries Uncategorized

Mark A. Nelson of Bristol

BRISTOL — A memorial service for Mark A. Nelson of Bristol will be held 1 p.m. on Saturday … (read more)

Share this story: