BRISTOL — On May 30 the Bristol Police Department, as an affiliate agency of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, initiated an investigation involving the exploitation of children through the internet. As a result of the investigation, on June 1 police took Spencer Koller, 21, of Starksboro into custody and cited him for luring a child and disseminating indecent material to a minor outside the presence of the minor.
After taking Koller to the Bristol Police Department, he was lodged at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility for lack of $25,000 bail.
Police alleged that Koller was exchanging sexually explicit messages, images and video with a minor under the age of 16 with the purpose of engaging in sexual conduct.
Bristol police were assisted in this investigation by the offices of the Vermont Attorney General and the Addison County State’s Attorney.
Between May 21 and June 2, Bristol conducted foot patrols along Main, North and Mountain streets, near the elementary school and in surrounding areas every day but Memorial Day.
Officers also completed 18 hours of patrol in a Click It or Ticket campaign funded by Vermont Governor’s Highway Safety Program, plus more than an hour and a half of directed patrol in the northern and western parts of Bristol funded by the town.
During that same period, officers checked security at Mount Abraham Union High School seven times and completed 15 fingerprint requests.
In other recent activity, Bristol police:
•  On May 21 an officer served a local resident with court paperwork.
•  On May 21 began investigating a threatening complaint at a local address.
•  On May 21 initiated an investigation for possession of marijuana.
•  On May 21 took a report, for insurance purposes, on damage to a vehicle in the district.
•  On May 21 assisted a disabled motorist whose vehicle had lost a wheel on East Street at the top of the hill near the Lord’s Prayer Rock.
•  On May 21 at nearly 9 p.m. went to a local residence for a report of a domestic disturbance; a person involved left the residence without incident.
•  On May 22 met with a student regarding truancy.
•  On May 22 met with a student and their parent after they were found in possession of tobacco products at a local school.
•  On May 22 went to a local business after a customer had made comments that were concerning to employees. An officer contacted the customer; no criminal action taken.
•  On May 22 at 5:25 p.m. received a call from a district resident who was unable to locate her son after school. The juvenile was located safe at home.
•  On May 22 responded to a Mountain Street residence for a female who was trespassing and would not leave. The female left once police arrived.
•  On May 22 at 7:51 p.m. responded to North Street for a two-vehicle, non-injury crash.
•  On May 23 were asked for assistance in retrieving property later in the day; an officer discussed property retrieval with all parties involved.
•  On May 23 responded with the Bristol Rescue Squad to a medical call on Main Street.
•  On May 23 served a local person court paperwork.
•  On May 23 responded to a two-car crash in a local parking lot. The at-fault vehicle left without providing information, so police started investigation.
•  On May 23 assisted Vermont State Police with a 911 hang-up call.
•  On May 24 received a call from a local resident regarding an electronic message they received. The message did not rise to the level of a crime.
•  On May 24 looked into a report that two people were having an argument, and determined that it did not rise to the level of a crime.
•  On May 24 were was flagged down on Burpee Road by subjects involved in a verbal dispute over property. The officer advised both parties to petition the court for remedy to their land disputes.
•  On May 24 began investigating a report of possession of marijuana by a person under the age of 21.
•  On May 24 checked two child safety seats and provided another Child Safety Seat on a voucher to a person.
•  On May 24 at 2157 assisted state police with the service of a temporary relief from abuse order.
•  On May 25 responded to a reported family fight and ended up citing Heather Smith, 33, of Bristol for domestic assault; conditions of release were ordered by the court.
•  On May 25 participated in an investigation related to child exploitation as part of the Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.
•  On May 25 investigated a report that a person had used a vehicle without permission.
•  On May 25 assisted a person who locked their keys in their car.
•  On May 25 state police at an accident.
•  On May 25 were told that a vehicle was traveling on the roadway without rear taillights; an officer found the vehicle and the taillights were illuminated.
•  On May 26 were told about concerns with an existing court order.
•  On May 26 assisted a citizen who had fallen on North Street. No injuries were reported.
•  On May 26 responded to a medical alarm at a local residence and found it was a false alarm.
•  On May 27 looked into a littering complaint at Mount Abe. The vehicles involved were gone when police arrived, but a witness had obtained one license plate number and police left a message with the car owner.
•  On May 27 assisted a motorist gain access to their locked vehicle.
•  On May 28 were dispatched to an alarm at a local business. While en route the office spoke with an employee who said the alarm was accidentally activated.
•  On May 28 were dispatched to a local business for an alarm activation and found that the business was closed and employee error may have set off the alarm.
•  On May 28 responded to a two-car property damage accident in a local parking lot.
•  On May 28 received a call from a concerned resident who received unusual messages from another person. An officer opened a case, but at this time it does not rise to level of a crime.
•  On May 29 performed traffic control at Main and North streets while Department of Public Works employees painted crosswalks.
•  On May 29 started investigation of a suspicious incident.
•  On May 30 responded to a reported dispute at a local residence. The parties were contacted, no criminal activity was noted.
•  On May 30 looked into a 911 hang-up call; no emergency was found.
•  On May 30 looked into a report of a dog in a vehicle on Main Street. The vehicle windows were opened about 3 inches, and the dog did not appear in distress. Police locate the owner and advised them of the danger with the rising temperature and removed the dog from vehicle.
•  On May 30 spoke to students at a local school regarding current issues and internet safety.
•  On May 30 assisted state police in locating a vehicle involved in an accident.
•  On May 30 assisted a motorist who had locked their keys in their car.
•  On May 30 checked the welfare of a person and assisted them in getting help.
•  On May 31 two officers completed training with a representative from the Vermont Department of Health on the use and reporting of Narcan use.
•  On May 31 met with children of a local school.
•  On May 31 contacted four juveniles observed on top of the bleacher structure at the recreation field.
•  On June 1 initiated a fraud investigation.
•  On June 1 responded to a citizen dispute; the unwanted person was gone when police got there.
•  On June 1 looked into a 911 hang-up. It came from a vacant property and appeared to be a phone line malfunction.
•  On June 1 assisted Vermont State Police with a suspicious call.
•  On June 2 facilitated resolution of a verbal disagreement at a Mountain Street home.
•  On June 2 at 9 p.m. responded to a barking dog on Maple Street.
•  On June 2 at 9:11 p.m. assisted the Bristol Rescue Squad with a call.