ADDISON COUNTY — Troopers operating out of the Vermont State Police New Haven barracks dealt with three drunk driving cases in the past week.
In the first instance, troopers were notified of a vehicle off Route 17 in Addison on Feb. 5 at little after 5:30 p.m. The officers were unable to locate the vehicle where it was reported, but found it after searching at nearby homes. They also found Christopher J. Putnam, 52, of Crown Point, N.Y., whom they identified as the driver of the vehicle that went off the road. After investigating, police alleged that Putnam drove off the road with a child in the car, and that his license was suspended. While speaking with Putnam, troopers detected signs of impairment, and screened him for driving under the influence, or DUI.
In the end, state police cited Putman for DUI, driving with a criminally suspended license, reckless endangerment and negligent driving.
Later that evening, at around a quarter to midnight, troopers stopped a motor vehicle stop on Morgan Road in Salisbury after observing several violations. Police said that driver Robert Mears, 48, of Salisbury attempted to provide them with a false name in an attempt to deflect their investigation. Troopers again detected signs of impairment, and screened Mears for DUI. Mears was taken to the barracks and released after being cited for DUI, third offense; driving with a criminally suspended license; providing false information to law enforcement; and violation of court ordered conditions of release.
In the third incident, troopers on Feb. 10 at 12:50 a.m. stopped a car in Ferrisburgh on Route 7, detected signs of impairment in the driver, and cited Adam Dawson, 24, of Charlotte for DUI.
All three are due to answer their respective charges in Addison County District Court, Criminal Division, on Feb. 25.
Meanwhile, on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, state police were searching for a missing man who had been ice fishing on Lake Champlain near Orwell. A concerned relative reported late on Monday that Lee Wiktorski, 61, of Benson had been ice fishing on the lake and had not returned. The search came to a tragic end on Wednesday afternoon when VSP found his body in the water. Click here to read the full story.