Officers reported that Hager told them Hecks vehicle then tried to pull back in front of him too soon and crashed into the front driver side fender of his truck, before the Nissan went out of control and rolled over three times. or the public information officer. Bennington Countys last known homicide was the fatal beating of Christopher Sharby, 46, which authorities said happened in Bennington last September. If you have a question regarding an incident or case, please contact your local state police. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please, We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by, Southern Vermont Arts Center high school student art show reception postponed because of weather, Court deems River Bend Market assault suspect fit for trial, Fire destroys home on Northside Drive this morning, Support our journalism. Contrary to social media reports, no bomb or explosive device was involved in the attack, Doucette said. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time. Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000, RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper C. Shepley, INCIDENT LOCATION: US Route 7 Shaftsbury/Sunderland VT, VIOLATION: DUI #1, Negligent Operation, Possession of Stolen Property. Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. Don't miss the big stories. 317 were here. Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older. Officers responded to 308 Pleasant Street for a report of a fight involving a knife. Hager told police that he passed Hecks vehicle, which then began high-beaming him a number of times before speeding up and passing him, police reported. The police dog found a scent to follow for a time Friday but it was eventually lost, police said. Ultimately, the state legislature will have to decide how much longer it will tolerate these kinds of abuses before taking corrective actions to reimagine public safety and policing in Vermont., On the morning of January 11, 2016, two masked men robbed employees of Martins Mini Mart, the latest of a string of unsolved robberies in Bennington. BPD was unable to release the name until now because they hadn't been able to find family to notify. The suspect resisted arrest but was detained after a brief struggle, Doucette said. Ralph Wright Jr., 64, was arraigned at the same courthouse he attempted to break into. BENNINGTON, Vt. . by: Courtney Ward. Mr. Chinnicis experience is a product of a notoriously toxic law enforcement culture in Bennington, and another shocking example of what happens when we leave it to the police to police themselves. January 18, 2023. Wright could be heard on the video saying the day and time, then he is seen getting out of his white pickup truck and walking to the side door. Press Releases Crime and Justice Shaftsbury man sues Vermont State Police for $25 million, alleging troopers assaulted him By Ethan Weinstein Jan 18 2022 Vermont State Police Trooper. Vermont State Police have arrested two people in connection with stolen firearms from a Waterbury gun shop. Sauer was later processed at the Shaftsbury State Police Barracks and released with a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court Bennington Criminal Division on 02/27/2023 at 0815 hours. Superhero 5K - November, 2022. . VSP News Releases Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000 The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. Contributing factors, road rage, and DUI drugs/alcohol.. Mr. Chinnicis experience is a product of a notoriously toxic law enforcement culture in Bennington, and another shocking example of what happens when we leave it to the police to police themselves. Wright faces a maximum six-months in jail and a $250 fine, if convicted on the count. Multiple crews responded but did not find anything. Police arrested Austin Mayhew on January 14, and he ultimately admitted to being one of the two robbers. The victim was taken to Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, where she died of her injuries later Monday, police said. One driver traveling in the same direction on Jan. 8 told police the Heck vehicle earlier passed several vehicles in the breakdown lane at speeds the witness estimated at up to 100 mph, before then slowing to almost a complete stop and almost causing a crash. Police say a male suspect in the shooting is cooperating with the investigation and that there is no danger to the public. The Oscars will air on ABC and can be streamed on ABC.com and the ABC app as well as Hulu + Live TV, YouTube TV, AT&T TV or FuboTV. The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. Police say there is no danger to the public, and no one has been reported injured. The Vermont State Police is a full-service law enforcement agency that provides primary law enforcement services to approximately 200 towns, 90 percent of the land mass, and 50 percent of the population in Vermont. Don't miss the big stories. Yesterday morning, hours before Mr. Chinnici filed his lawsuit, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on proposed, legislation to curtail the use of misleading tactics. Embrace proven, evidence-based programs that incorporate broader public health and social wellness into cohesive approaches to community wellness and public safety in Bennington. Come out with your hands up, but there was no response, and police did not see the person making the noise. Police say at about 9:15 a.m., people working at. Officers searching the night of the crash with a K-9 unit reported hearing branches breaking in the woods near a 10-foot wildlife fence and called out, saying, Bennington Police K-9 unit. Wright allegedly threatened to intentionally cause a car crash with the former judge to attempt to show he drives intoxicated. BPD releases officer reports on Heck crash, aftermath. Mr. Chinnici was prosecuted based on evidence arising from these unlawful actions, though his resulting conviction was eventually thrown out. The story will be updated as more information is made available. This responsibility includes listening and weighing outcomes of potential decisions and policies. COURT DATE/TIME: 02/27/2023 at 0815 hours. Winds light and variable. the court. A copy of the complaint is available here. Police: Arrest made in Bennington killing. Like us on Facebook. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. A similar proposal was one of many police reforms opposed and defeated by law enforcement leaders last year. Occasional snow showers. Police investigate shooting in Bennington, Northern New York woman killed in 2-vehicle crash. The Bennington Police Department was the first chartered municipal police department in the. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) Vermont State Police are . According to a news release from BPD Chief Paul Doucette, around 11:15 a.m. Monday, town police received a call about a male attacking a female along the Walloomsac River walkway between North and School streets. Bennington Banner Compliments of: The Bennington Banner Tenets of the Bennington Police Department - Moving Forward. Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000, RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Colin Shepley, CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Bennington, Vermont. Members of the Bennington Police Department and elected and appointed officials must jointly shoulder the responsibility to share expectations and offer solutions. BENNINGTON Two town residents were arrested Thursday after police said they found a semi-automatic rifle and handgun along with suspected illegal drugs and thousands in cash during an investigation. Mr. Chinnici was seized in front of family, handcuffed, and charged with the robbery. Although the employees described the second robber as a Hispanic male with an accent weighing 170-190 poundscharacteristics that in no way resembled Mr. Chinniciofficers disregarded more likely suspects and immediately targeted Mr. Chinnici. More information Bennington police accused of negligence in missing man case If you have a question regarding an incident or case, please contact your local state police. Anthony Union High School. Police did speak to the contact on Sunday, Jan. 10, and were told they had not seen Heck since Friday morning. Media Releases and News. Yesterday morning, hours before Mr. Chinnici filed his lawsuit, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on proposed legislation to curtail the use of misleading tactics in police interrogations. Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. Bennington Police have been. VSP News Releases Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000 The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. The Vermont Police Bomc Squad rendered the device safe and evidence was collected. Adoption of these approaches must become wide-spread and serve as principles for the Bennington Police Department. Vermont Civil Violation Complaint: Pending, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of. Man of Kent owner Jon Bombard told Bennington police after the crash that he was a friend of Hecks, and asked that he be reported missing. An officer provided first aid until the Bennington Rescue Squad arrived, he said. . In Bennington, police said they received a false report of two student shootings one at Grace Christian School and one at Mt. The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. 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The Commission specifically looked at how to make systematic improvements and enhance coordination between police, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and correctional authorities to increase the ability to prevent and control crime, prevent unnecessary incarceration, serve the victims of crime, and improve community-police engagement. Harrington reported that Bombard said he last saw Heck around 4 p.m. the night of the crash. Bennington County States Attorney Erica Marthage couldnt immediately be reached for comment. State and local police, along with members of the Bureau of . Investigations are ongoing. Low 29F. In a follow-up report on Feb. 2, Harrington said he had talked with Bombard by phone about Hecks demeanor while at the Man of Kent Jan. 8. Afterward, back on the record, Doucette implied that Mayhew had named John Chinnici specifically, which Mayhew denied. ACLU of Vermont Staff Attorney Hillary Rich: No one should be subjected to the dishonest and coercive tactics that John Chinnici experienced at the hands of Bennington police. BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) A Bennington man is suing the town, its police chief and two officers, accusing them of violating his constitutional rights by arresting him in the 2016 armed robbery. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please, We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by, Local man arrested for attempted break-in at courthouse, Southern Vermont Arts Center high school student art show reception postponed because of weather, Court deems River Bend Market assault suspect fit for trial, Fire destroys home on Northside Drive this morning, Support our journalism. The deceased is Elton Dowd, 19, of Fitchburg. Vermont News. Subscribe today. Wright also shot a video of a vehicle belonging to former Judge Justine Scanlon, the same person still working inside the building, mentioning her by name. BENNINGTON The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont is suing the Bennington Police Department on behalf of a Bennington resident who claims he was unlawfully arrested, interrogated, and searched after police repeatedly pressured witnesses to name him as an accomplice in a January 2016 armed robbery. A cell phone also was found, but it could not be accessed because it was fingerprint password protected, police said. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. Local man arrested for attempted break-in at courthouse. You . Occasional snow showers. Press Releases. They say the car hit Monday is. Riendeau was released to a sober party. Follow 21K. Subscribe today. Jim Therrien writes for the Vermont News and Media newspapers, including the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal and Brattleboro Reformer. Wright, the son of prominent Bennington legislator Ralph Wright, who served in the Vermont House of Representatives and served as speaker, has become well-known around town for videotaping people and officials, and calling himself a reporter. While there are multiple ways to hold offenders accountable, prosecutorial and judicial discretion is an important tenet of the criminal justice system. Hager told police Heck then began to apply his brakes, and slowed to about 25 miles per hour. Police were granted a search warrant and rendered the scene safe at around 5 p.m. Sgt. SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: ON the above date and time, Vermont State Police were advised of a be on the lookout for a Dorr Oil truck which was being operated all over the roadway on US Route 7 in the Town of Shaftsbury. According to reports from the officers involved, witnesses said Heck, 35, was involved in an apparent road rage incident and attempting to pass a pickup truck near the Austin Hill Road underpass when his Nissan Frontier pickup truck swerved and struck the side of the other vehicle. Police have said the other shoe might have pulled off his foot in a wet area or stream in the woods. or the public information officer. Wright, the son of prominent Bennington legislator Ralph Wright, who served in the . Police said the material later was matched to a tear in the leg of Hecks jeans when he was found and he had been bleeding. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Anyone with information regarding this crash is encouraged to contact Trooper Shepley at the above listed phone number. BPD was unable to release the name until now because they hadn't been able to find family to notify. BENNINGTON, Vt. Bennington, Vt., Police have released the name of the individual who fell to their death off the Chapel Road-Route 279 overpass on Feb. 20. VSP News Releases Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000 The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. The Bennington Police Department is still searching for his alleged killer, Raul Cardona, 28 . Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette declined comment Tuesday, stating, "Further details are not being released at this time." A candlelight vigil had been set for Tuesday evening near the. BENNINGTON Police Chief Paul Doucette said Wednesday that he will "stand by the actions" of his officers following the Jan. 8 rollover crash of a pickup being driven by Hans Heck, who left the scene and was found three days later in a wooded area, having died of hypothermia. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Chance of snow 40%. Police said medical examiner and a toxicology reports later showed that Heck had no significant injuries as a result of the crash, and he had a blood-alcohol level of .151, well above the .08 legal limit, along with cocaine and marijuana in his system. They say they responded to a residence for a report of suspicious drug activity. Chinnicis case is emblematic of well-documented problems with Benningtons police department, and it shows how much further Vermont still has to go to establish a culture of accountability in law enforcement. The report was commissioned after revelations that Bennington officials withheld relevant evidence from then-Attorney General T.J. Donovans investigation into racial harassment of then-local resident and state legislator Kiah Morris, as well as multiple Vermont Supreme Court decisions concerning unlawful BPD traffic stops of Black motorists. Winds light and variable. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Complaints against members of the Bennington Police Department must receive thorough, timely, transparent, and objective investigation to determine the validity of the complaint, root cause of failure and work towards improvement. Contact Tiffany Tan . The decisions and practices of the Bennington County State's Attorney's Office, The Vermont Attorney General's Office and the Vermont Judiciary directly impact public safety, particularly the trust and confidence the community has in the Bennington Police Department. Subscribe today. He had the gun. After an attempt was made to locate Wright, an arrest warrant was issued. Chinnicis case is emblematic of well-documented problems with Benningtons police department, and it shows how much further Vermont still has to go to establish a culture of accountability in law enforcement. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The police reports also describe attempting to locate Heck at the address on his Vermont drivers license but learning he did not live there, then checking two other addresses in Bennington where he was said to possibly be living. . According to police, the device was confirmed to be an energetic destructive device. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Recently, according to the affidavit, Wright approached an officer telling him to arrest a former judge for driving under the influence. According to a Vermont State Police news release, Patrick Mullinnex, the deceased victim in Wednesday's shooting on Pleasant Street in . The Bennington Police Department, the lead investigating agency, said it continues to investigate the Monday killing and is asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Not you. After sustained pressure by BPD, Mr. Mayhew falsely identified Mr. Chinnici as his accompliceapproximately 30 minutes after Mr. Chinni had already been arrested. COURT: Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of. Syringe Services Program information card. Low 29F. The illegally obtained evidence was then used against Mr. Chinnici at trial. The breaking branches were heard near a fence installed to channel deer or other wildlife to an underpass below the highway, thereby reducing the number who are struck by vehicles. When addressing problematic behavior by Bennington Police Officers, the Police Chief and Town Manager should have broad discretion in determining consequences and be able to act swiftly. Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000, RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Jared Lacoste, DATE/TIME: 2/14/23 at approximately 1620 hours. BENNINGTON, Vt. The Bennington, Vt., Police Department said a suspected bomb or as police called it, "an energetic destructive device" was found Thursday inside a home at 351 Overlea Road. Contact Tiffany Tan at ttan@benningtonbanner.com or @tiffgtan on Facebook and Twitter. This includes having more open conversations about coping with stress and trauma within the Bennington Police Department and informing the public, as well as elected and appointed officials, of the stress and demands on officers and staff. In a follow-up interview on Feb. 1, Hager told police he was going from Hoosick Falls, N.Y., to Home Depot in Bennington prior to the crash. Heck left the scene that evening as temperatures were dropping toward a low of 15 degrees wearing a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, according to the reports, and his body reportedly was found in a gully in thick woods with only one shoe. Heck also had a conceal carry firearms permit from the state of Florida, where the Nissan was registered, and was seen taking something from his vehicle before running from the crash scene before police arrived. BPD officers had already been harassing Mr. Chinnici, including stopping him without cause simply because he was in [their] radar sights.. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A suspect is on the run after a shooting in Bennington and police say he is considered armed and dangerous. BENNINGTON Police Chief Paul Doucette said Wednesday that he will stand by the actions of his officers following the Jan. 8 rollover crash of a pickup being driven by Hans Heck, who left the scene and was found three days later in a wooded area, having died of hypothermia. Bennington Police are investigating a shooting late Saturday night. Despite the employees contrary description, Mayhews refusal to name his accomplice, and no evidence connecting Mr. Chinnici with the robbery, Doucette arrested Mr. Chinnici without probable cause. Federal money bound for Burlington Airport to fund terminal expansion Updated : Feb. 28 . Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older. Subsequently, Riendeau was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI. Copyright 2022 WCAX. According to property management, there was nobody living at the residence as the the residence was in transition.