ADDISON COUNTY— This past Friday evening at around 6 p.m. Vermont State Police saw a motor vehicle violation and stopped the car on Route 7 in Ferrisburgh. While Troopers spoke with the driver, identified as 30-year-old Justin Gaboriault of West Rutland, police detected signs of impairment. After Gaboriault performed standard filed sobriety tests, troopers arrested him on suspicion that he was driving under the influence.
Suspicious, troopers obtained a search warrant for the vehicle belonging to Gaboriault. During the search of the vehicle, troopers located a firearm hidden inside. State police said Gaboriault was prohibited from possessing firearms in the state of Vermont.
After Gaboriault was processed at the state police barracks in New Haven and cited for DUI, for driving with a criminally suspended license and possessing a firearm while under prohibition, state police released him.
Separately, Vermont State Police are seeking information regarding several recent thefts in the area of Lake Dunmore in Leicester and Salisbury. On July 16, state police received two different theft reports that took place during the late evening hours of July 15 into the early morning hours of July 16. Items that were taken include boating equipment and components.
Anyone with information pertaining to either of these incidents or anyone with information regarding suspicious activity in the area is encouraged to contact Trooper Hein at the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919.
Residents and visitors to Lake Dunmore and the surrounding community are urged to keep any valuables secure as much as possible, and to report any unusual activity to the appropriate law enforcement authorities.
In other recent activity, state police:
•  On July 17 at approximately 6:32 p.m. responded to a two-car crash on Route 17 E in New Haven. Police report that both cars were traveling eastbound and, due to construction one car was stopped by a flagger at the crest of a hill. The trailing car struck the rear end of the lead car causing damage to both. No one was injured.
•  On July 18 at around 6:30 p.m. responded to Champlain Beverage at 1620 Route 7 in Leicester to investigate a report of a man — later identified as 31-year-old Samuel Olds — returning to the store after having been asked to leave earlier in the day for allegedly scaring customers by wearing a shirt over his face.
While responding to that call, police said they received a second call about the same suspect allegedly breaking into a nearby home. A witness told troopers that they had seen Olds break “numerous windows” at the home and that Olds had attempted to assault the witness with a two-by-four by throwing it at her. He then fled the scene. Police found Olds in the woods, cited him for unlawful mischief, burglary of an occupied dwelling and disorderly conduct, and lodged him that night at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility on $10,000 bail.
•  On July 18 at 8 p.m. noticed a vehicle stopped at the intersection of Town Hill Road and Route 7 in New Haven. Police ended up citing Patrick Cota, 25, of Middlebury for driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On July 19 looked into a report of a family disturbance at a Weybridge home. Police cited Mark Kennedy, 31, of Burlington for violating court conditions and driving with a criminally suspended license.
•  On July 20 at approximately 8:38 p.m. responded to a two-car crash on Route 7 near Fern Lake Road in Leicester.  Police said one car was leaving the Champlain Beverage gas station as another car was turning into the station, when the first car struck the second. No one was injured. Traffic tickets are pending.
•  Were called to investigate a suspicious fire at 339 Parkhill Road in Cornwall on Friday, July 20. Anyone with information on the fire is asked to contact Det. Sgt. Tom Williams at the Rutland barracks (802-773-9101) or call the Arson Tip Award Line at 1-800-ARSON. See a full story in Section A.
•  On July 22 at 4:15 a.m. responded to a one-car crash on Route 116 North in Bristol. Police cited Andrea Craft, 30, of Starksboro for driving under the influence – refusal.
•  On July 22 reported that police had cited Gerald Howe, 33, of Brattleboro for sexual assault of a victim younger than 16 years old. Police report that on July 10 detective troopers assigned to the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations were notified of a sexual assault that took place in Shoreham on July 3. Police conducted a number of interviews and on July 20 arrested Howe. He is due to answer the charge on Aug. 6 at Addison County Superior Court, criminal division.
•  On July 22 at approximately 5:15 p.m. responded to Upper Notch Road in Bristol for a report of an ATV Crash with injuries. Police said they found the ATV crashed approximately 30 feet down an embankment off Upper Notch Road. Their investigation showed that Paul Meacham, 47, of New Haven was driving southbound on Upper Notch Road at approximately 25 mph when his ATV’s front left tire fell off of the vehicle. Meacham lost control of his vehicle and it went off the road. As a result of the collision, Meacham sustained significant bodily injury due to blunt force trauma. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash.
An ambulance transported Meacham to UVM Medical Center, where he was treated and discharged the next day.
Vermont State Police were assisted by members of the Bristol Police Department, Bristol Fire Department, Bristol Rescue Squad, Middlebury Regional EMS and Middlebury Technical Rescue.
•  On July 22 at approximately 8:30 p.m. observed a green 2007 Ford Escape northbound on Route 7 at a speed of 98 mph in a posted 50 mph zone; this was confirmed with the cruiser’s radar device. While attempting to catch up to the vehicle, troopers saw the vehicle pass several other cars, forcing them onto the shoulder of the roadway.
Troopers stopped the car, and while there several motorists stopped and told troopers that the vehicle had been travelling at a high rate of speed, forcing vehicles off of the roadway, and almost caused several collisions. Police allege that the driver, identified as 34-year-old Virginia Gillett of Salisbury, provided false information to troopers during their interview after the stop.
Police cited Gillett with speeding, grossly negligent driving, driving with a suspended license and giving false information to a law enforcement officer. She is due to answer the charges in court on Oct. 1.