Crime

Vermont State Police Log: Troopers asking for your help

ADDISON COUNTY — Vermont State Police are asking for help from the public as troopers gather information on several recent incidents.

The most notable of these was a July 23 car crash in Monkton in which the driver fled the scene.

At about 2 p.m. last Saturday, troopers responded to a report of a one-car crash on Hardscrabble Road near the intersection with Boro Hill Road. Police report that the driver, who ran away, was driving a 2005 Subaru Impreza westbound on Hardscrabble Road entering the eastbound lane and continuing on off the road and striking a utility pole causing power outages in the area.

Hardscrabble Road, where the crash occurred, was temporarily reduced to one lane of travel.

Bristol police, Vergennes Area Rescue Squad, Green Mountain Power, Comcast and the Monkton Volunteer Fire Department all assisted troopers.

This case is active and pending further investigation. Vermont State Police request that anyone with information that may help them identify the driver of the Impreza call the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919 or leave an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gove/tipsubmit.

Separately, state police are trying to piece together what led to a bad motorcycle crash near the Snow Bowl that landed the driver in the hospital last Saturday.

On July 23 at around 3:39 p.m. state police were notified of a one-motorcycle crash on Route 125 in Hancock. Troopers determined that Rostislav Kechedzhi, 47, of Waltham, Mass., sustained serious injuries when the 2014 Kawasaki ZG1400 crashed. The events leading up to the crash are being actively investigated.

Middlebury Regional EMS took Kechedzhi to a helicopter that whisked him to the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, N.H., for treatment of serious injuries. Ripton Fire and Rescue also assisted on the scene.

Police are asking anyone who may have seen the crash of the red motorcycle with a Massachusetts license plate — possibly traveling with a larger group of motorcycles — contact Trooper Murdock at the New Haven barracks at 802-388-4919.

Meanwhile, state police are asking for help finding out who broke into vehicles at the Snake Mountain parking area in Addison last Thursday.

On July 21, troopers were advised of two separate thefts/vandalisms from motor vehicles at the parking area. Items stolen were an iPad, iPod, three pairs of sunglasses (Tom Ford and Oakley), $40 cash and two sets of keys. Both vehicles sustained broken windows during the break-ins.

The Vermont State Police is requesting help from the public in identifying the individuals involved. The only information troopers have so far is a black lifted truck with silver chrome with a man inside it. Anyone with information regarding the thefts is asked to contact Trooper Armin Nukic at 802-388-4919 or to leave an anonymous tip online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.

In other recent activity, Vermont State Police

  • On July 12 at just after 3 p.m. responded to a one-car crash on Route 7 at the intersection of Lime Kiln Road in New Haven. Police report that Jeffrey Marshall, 73, of Rutland was driving a 2006 Buick Lucerne southbound on Route 7 when he attempted to go around a southbound vehicle in front of him that was turning east onto Lime Kiln Road. Marshall’s vehicle exited the roadway and subsequently hit a large culvert causing unknown damage to the undercarriage of the vehicle.

Marshall sustained minor injuries and was taken to Porter Medical Center by Bristol Rescue for further medical evaluation.

Route 7 in the area of the crash was temporarily reduced to one lane of travel during this incident.

Neither speed nor impairment were contributing factors in this crash, police said.

The New Haven Fire Department helped out after the crash.

  • On July 13 at a little after 1 a.m. a trooper saw a motorcycle northbound on Route 7 in Salisbury at an egregiously high rate of speed; radar indicated the speed was 94 mph in a posted 50 mph zone. Police cited driver Christopher Hart, 32, of Fair Haven for negligent driving and for driving a vehicle under the influence of alcohol or other substances. They also issued him civil tickets that carried $817 in fines.
  • On July 13 at approximately 3:06 p.m. looked into a report of an impaired driver stopped in the roadway of Morgan Horse Farm Road in Weybridge near Vermont Marble Power. Troopers located the vehicle parked in the roadway and identified the driver as John Moriarty, 72, of Bridport.

Police report that Moriarty drove a 2007 Nissan truck into a boulder and a utility box in the area, causing damage to the vehicle as well as the utility box. Middlebury Regional EMS treated Moriarty for minor injuries at the scene.

Troopers detected indicators of impairment and cited him for driving under the influence. After processing at the barracks, police released Moriarty to a sober party.

  • On July 14 issued a press release following up on a July 4 report of a vandalism at the Short Stop gas station in North Ferrisburgh. Police were told that a customer had dismantled two protective shields near the cash registers at the store. State police were able to identify the individual who vandalized the store property as Shawn A. Mathieu, 37, of Charlotte. On July 14 police located Mathieu and cited him for unlawful mischief.
  • On July 16 at approximately 9:26 p.m. logged a report of a single vehicle in a ditch off Route 22A in Orwell. Police said that driver William Marsh, 33 of Fair Haven was under the influence of intoxicants and they cited him for driving under the influence.
  • On July 19 at a little before 5 p.m. received the report of a domestic disturbance on Route 74 East in Shoreham. Police said that through investigation they determined that Christopher Lewis, 52, of Shoreham had assaulted and injured a household member. Troopers took Lewis to the New Haven barracks and cited him for domestic assault.
  • On July 20 received a report of a family fight that had occurred just after midnight on July 18 at a Hardscrabble Road home in Monkton. Police said Jonathan Turner, 47, of Monkton attempted to strangle and cause serious bodily injury to a household member. On the 21st troopers located Turner at his residence, arrested him and cited him for first degree aggravated domestic assault.
  • On July 23 at 6:18 p.m. responded to a one-car crash with injuries on Route 17 East near Mountain Road in Addison. Police report that 28-year-old Sarah Mills was driving a Chevy Aveo westbound on Route 17 when she attempted to pass a vehicle while navigating a curve. The Aveo flipped onto its roof and blocked both lanes of traffic. Mills was transported by DHART to the University of Vermont Medical Center and was in critical condition on Saturday evening; on Tuesday the hospital said she was in serious condition.

Route 17 East was shut down for approximately four hours for the crash investigation and roadway cleanup. Troopers were assisted by Vergennes Fire Department and Vergennes Area Rescue Squad. The crash investigation is still pending.

  • On July 24 at around 6 p.m. clocked a vehicle traveling 84 mph in a posted 45 mph zone on Route 17 through the intersection with Green Street in New Haven. Police stopped the vehicle and cited 30-year-old Marcie Whittemore of Bridport for negligent driving. Police also issued her civil tickets for exceeding the limit in state speed zones and for driving with a civilly suspended license.
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