VERGENNES — After dealing with a series of complaints about the man earlier last week, Vergennes police on March 30 cited Jacob McDowell, 26, who they described as homeless, for unlawful mischief for allegedly slashing tires on three vehicles in the city.
Police said they also issued a no-trespass order to him on behalf of the John Graham Shelter, where he had been staying, and are investigating him in connection with slashed tires on two more vehicles discovered on March 31. After the citation, police said they dropped McDowell off in New Haven Junction at his request.
On March 27 and twice on March 29 police said they spoke to McDowell after citizen complaints that they were uncomfortable about him taking multiple pictures of people, passing cars and homes in the Monkton Road area, outside Shaw’s Supermarket and near Gaines Insurance.
On the 27th police said he agreed to stop taking pictures, and when police first spoke to him on the 29th police said McDowell described the camera work as his hobby. Police ordered him to leave the area the final time they spoke to him on March 29.
In other action between March 27 and April 2, Vergennes police:
•  On March 27 informed a South Water Street resident about a death in the family.
•  On March 28 met a man at Champlain Farms who had just had a job interview but missed the bus back to Burlington and had to wait eight hours for the next bus; an officer who lives up north gave the man a ride home when his shift ended.
•  On March 29 dealt with the case of a 17-year-old girl caught shoplifting a rechargeable battery pack and a USB drive from Kinney Drug Store; police contacted a parent, and the store agreed the teen could return and pay for the items.
•  On March 29 told a motorist making a lengthy cell phone call after hours in Falls Park he had to move along.
•  On March 30 responded to a reported family fight at a Main Street apartment and calmed two youths.
•  On March 30 calmed a dispute between a father and his adult daughter at a Green Street residence.
•  On March 31 dealt with a minor two-car accident on Monkton Road.
•  On April 1 called a tow truck to help a car that had slid off West Main Street.
•  On April 1 gave a drunken man a ride home after finding him walking in the middle of Main Street; police said they asked him where he had been, and he responded “Limit Cities.”
•  On April 2 cited Adam J. Gebo, 36, of Bristol for driving under the influence of alcohol after stopping his car for allegedly failing to stop at the junction of New Haven Road and Route 7. Police allege Gebo’s blood-alcohol content tested at 0.102; the legal limit for driving is 0.08.
•  On April 2 checked a report of a suspicious car after hours at Gaines Insurance and discovered it belonged to cleaners.