VERGENNES — Vergennes police are continuing to investigate an alleged June 1 assault at Northlands Job Corps that they now believe more likely involved false reporting.
Police and Northlands officials were told that one male student punched another male student, and Northlands sent the alleged assailant home. But city police said further investigation showed that the student who was punched might instead have asked his girlfriend to strike him for reasons of sexual gratification, and that they possibly concocted the story of an assault.
Police Chief George Merkel said the case is being reviewed, and charges are possible of providing false information to law enforcement officials.
In other incidents between May 29 and June 4, Vergennes police:
•  On May 29 had towed a car that was broken down in the middle of Green Street; its owner picked it up later.
•  On May 29 encountered homeless people seeking vouchers for a hotel stay and instead referred them to the John Graham Shelter.
•  On May 29 convinced a despondent and drunken woman sitting on a city curbside to go home with a relative.
•  On May 29 conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Panton Road.
•  On May 30 responded to a verbal dispute between a mother and son at a Main Street apartment and arrested the man involved, Christopher Holwager, 27, of Vergennes, who police said had been drinking, for violations of conditions of release. Police lodged Holwager at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility.
•  On May 30 backed up Vermont State Police at a Monkton Road driving-under-the-influence case that included a one-car accident.
•  On May 30 discussed with a resident a problem with an ATV being driven illegally in his neighborhood.
•  On May 31 backed up an Addison County Sheriff’s Department deputy with a West Main Street car search during which marijuana was found.
•  On May 31 searched unsuccessfully for a car said to have been operated erratically on Main Street.
•  On May 31 were told a package had been stolen from a Hillside Drive apartment; it was eventually determined the package was delivered to the wrong address.
•  On May 31 helped recover stolen property at Vergennes Union Elementary School.
•  On May 31 cited Anthony Smith, 20, of Vergennes for disorderly conduct for allegedly cursing at and failing to cooperate with police, and issued Smith and a male juvenile court diversion paperwork for underage drinking.
•  On June 1 conducted unlicensed dog enforcement for the city.
•  On June 1 while doing one of several Click-It-or-Ticket details last week cited Robecca J. Labor, 47, of Middlebury for DUI-drugs after stopping her car on Route 7 in Salisbury for an expired registration.
•  On June 1 conducted background investigations for the U.S. Army and a Florida law enforcement agency.
•  On June 2 called the owner of horses loose on Monkton Road.
•  On June 3 advised a woman who came to the station and spoke of a verbally abusive husband how to contact the Counseling Service of Addison County.
•  On June 3 checked out a report of a suspicious man on South Water Street.
•  On June 4 were told youths were vandalizing flower displays on the Otter Creek bridge; they were gone when police arrived.
•  On June 4 took a report that a woman had been assaulted while at a West Main Street residence; Hinesburg police are investigating this case.
•  On June 4 were told a Vergennes resident might have stolen scrap metal from Junction Automotive.