ADDISON COUNTY — A Vermont State Police trooper attempted to stop a Ford Focus on Route 7 in Middlebury for a traffic violation this past Saturday, Sept. 28, at around 10:30 p.m. After the trooper activated her blue lights and siren, the car sped up and failed to stop. 
Police report that the vehicle turned into a local business in an apparent attempt to evade the trooper, and continued driving through several fields until it ultimately became stuck. The driver fled on foot. 
State police said that during this incident, the driver attempted to turn the vehicle around and while doing so backed into a fully marked state police cruiser causing significant contact damage to the driver’s side of the cruiser. 
Troopers later located the driver and identified him as Alexander Sheldrick, 21, of Salisbury. They arrested Sheldrick, took him to the New Haven state police barracks, and cited him for grossly negligent driving, eluding a police officer, reckless endangerment and unlawful mischief. 
Sheldrick is due to answer the charges in Addison County Superior Court, criminal division, on Dec. 23. 
That isn’t the only chase that state police have taken part in lately.
State police last week reported that on Sept. 8 at a little past 1 a.m. a trooper saw a vehicle traveling southbound on Route 7 in New Haven at a high rate of speed. A radar device clocked the car at 92 mph in a 50 mph zone. The trooper tried to stop the car but the driver didn’t pull over. According to state police, a chase reaching speeds of over 100 mph ensued, but the troopers discontinued the pursuit due to the fact that they were about to enter a residential neighborhood.
Police investigated and determined that the car was driven by Cody L. Paquette, 24, of South Burlington. Authorities report that Paquette’s license was criminally suspended and that he had two passengers in the vehicle during the chase.
On Sept. 21 Paquette came to the New Haven state police barracks, where he was placed under arrest, and cited for eluding a police officer, grossly negligent driving, excessive speed, recklessly endangering another person and driving with a criminally suspended license.
Police also issued Paquette several traffic tickets with waiver penalties totaling $4,619 and a total of 42 points on hid driver’s license.
He is due to answer the charges in court on Nov. 25.
In other recent activity, troopers 
•On Sept. 9 got a tip that David Manning, 43, of Ripton was out of compliance with the Vermont Sex Offender Registry. After multiple attempts, police located Manning on Sept. 23, took him into custody, and released Manning after citing him for violating his responsibility to report to the sex offender registry. He is due to answer the citation in court on Nov. 4.
•On Sept 17 at around 9:30 p.m. responded to a family fight at a Ferrisburgh home. Troopers report that Andrew Gendreau, 55, of Ferrisburgh made numerous threats to a family member, putting the person in reasonable apprehension of both serious bodily injury and death. Police cited Gendreau for criminal threatening.
•On Sept. 19 stopped a vehicle on Lake Dunmore Road in Salisbury, detected signs of impairment in the driver and cited Gregory L. Schroeder, 63, of Salisbury for driving under the influence, fourth offense.
•On Sept. 20 at around 5:45 p.m. responded to a report of family fight at Shoreham residence. Police investigated and said they determined that Samantha Paine, 34, of Shoreham assaulted a family member. They cited Paine for domestic assault and cruelty to a child.
•On Sept. 21 at approximately 12:36 a.m. responded to a one-car crash on Cove Road near the intersection with Munger Street in New Haven. Police report that Katelynne Hill, 24, of Brandon was driving a 2011 Honda Pilot around a curve when a deer ran into the road. Hill attempted to avoid the deer and ended up colliding with a tree on the side of the road.
Hill was transported to Porter Medical Center for cuts to her face and minor burn marks. The car was considered a total loss.
 The Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by members of the New Haven Fire Department and local rescue squads. 
•On Sept. 21 at around five minutes before 10 p.m. saw a vehicle passed a trooper traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle was captured on radar traveling at 87 mph in road posted at 50 mph. Police stopped the car and cited Joseph Burke, 19, of Middlebury for excessive speed.
•On Sept. 22 at 4 p.m. received a complaint that someone had threatened a couple on Mt. Independence Road in Orwell. Police said that Joseph Gagnon, 60, of Chittenden not only harassed the victims via telephone, but also left numerous voicemails containing threats that placed the victims in fear of serious bodily injury and/or death. 
State police found Gagnon at his home on Sept. 28 and issued him a citation for criminal threatening and for disturbing the peace by telephone or other electronic means. He is due to answer the charges in Addison County Superior Court, criminal division, on Dec. 2.
•On Sept. 26, as part of an ongoing investigation into suspicious incidents and vandalisms in the Bridport area, announced that they had cited Chase Atkins, 24, of Addison for disturbing the peace by use of telephone or other electronic communications in connection with reported harassment of workers with the Migrant Justice organization. Police added a hate-crime enhancement to that citation. Atkins is due the answer the charges in court on Nov. 18. See full story in Sept. 30 edition of the Independent.