VERGENNES — Vergennes police on Aug. 17 cited a soon-to-be-dismissed Northlands Job Corps student for starting the fire that destroyed an empty Macdonough Drive horse barn.
Police said they cited a 16-year-old juvenile from Florida who had been terminated from Northlands for “setting fires,” and not for arson. Police said the juvenile apparently did not intend to destroy the building on the south side of the city street, but acknowledged starting the fire that then got out of control.
In other incidents between Aug. 15 and 21, Vergennes police:
• On Aug. 15 asked a Maple Manor resident to realign a home’s security light so that it didn’t shine in a neighbor’s window early in the morning, an action taken at the request of the neighbor.
• On Aug. 15 took a report that a diamond ring had been stolen from a Second Street home, an incident that remains under investigation.
• On Aug. 15 calmed an upset Northlands student and arranged a meeting for her with the Counseling Service of Addison County.
• On Aug. 15 secured an unlocked Macdonough Drive door.
• On Aug. 16 referred to the city manager a complainant who said the regular 6:30 a.m. starting time of a West Main Street construction project was noisy and too early.
• On Aug. 16 calmed a mentally challenged family member at a High Street home who was destroying belongings.
• On Aug. 16 were told by a woman that her daughter was involved with a man who was involved with drugs, drove while impaired, and had triggered relief-from-abuse orders.
• On Aug. 17 took a report that a car parked on North Street had been struck by another vehicle.
• On Aug. 17 helped a motorist get into a locked car at Shaw’s Supermarket.
• On Aug. 17 accompanied humane society representatives and checked the welfare of animals at a Meadow Lane home; the animals were found to be OK.
• At an Aug. 19 Monkton Road traffic stop ticketed a motorist for driving an unregistered vehicle with a civilly suspended license.
• At an Aug. 19 West Main Street traffic stop ticketed a motorist for possession of marijuana and paraphernalia.
• On Aug. 19 responded to the intersection of Panton Road and West Main Street, where a motorcycle heading south of West Main Street collided with a vehicle that pulled out of the side road. Police said the motorcycle operator, who was cut off by the second vehicle, was taken to Porter Hospital for observation. Police are seeking information on the other vehicle, which left the scene.
• On Aug. 20 ticketed John Wagner, 28, of Vergennes for possession of about 1.6 ounces of marijuana. Police contacted Wagner after seeing a friend riding down Monkton Road on an office chair at about 1:45 a.m. and then roll over to the sidewalk to talk to Wagner. Police said the two had apparently found a free office chair on the side of East Street and had been riding it around town.
• On Aug. 20 checked a report of a dog in a locked car on Main Street and found the dog and its owner outside the car.
• At an Aug. 20 impaired driving checkpoint at the intersection of Routes 7 and 22A cited Jackson Thibault, 22, of Milton for driving under the influence of drugs and took him to have a blood-screening test administered.
• On Aug. 20 spoke to a man on West Main Street who was reported to be shining lights at oncoming drivers; the man said he was catching Pokemons.
• At an Aug. 21 traffic stop arrested Mirabai Verner-Lust, 28, of Waltham for an outstanding warrant for failure to appear in court.
• On Aug. 21 went to New Haven to help Vermont State Police with a man who was suicidal after running out of pain medication.
• On Aug. 21 dealt with a minor two-car accident on Main Street.
• On Aug. 21 responded on behalf of VSP to an accident with injury at the intersection of Route 7 and Middlebrook Road in Waltham.
• On Aug. 21 cited James O’Brien, 52, of Ferrisburgh for DUI after being alerted to a car swerving and hitting mailboxes near Kennedy Brothers. Police alleged his blood-alcohol content tested at 0.242, about three times the legal limit for driving.
• On Aug. 21 tried to help VSP by looking for a drunk and potentially violent Waltham resident, but could not find him.