They are Trooper Paul Pennoyer and Sgt. Copyright 2022 WCAX. And there could be questions about where Heck became intoxicated, Doucette said, noting that he was reported to have been at the Man of Kent Tavern on Route 7 in Hoosick, N.Y., earlier that day. A copy of the complaint is available here. Tiffany Tan reported for the Bennington Banner from November 2018 to September 2021, with a focus on police and court stories. A Bennington man, Joseph Cattani, 48, is facing manslaughter and aggravated assault charges in Sharbys death. News releases include information about arrests and citations, reports about homicides and other major criminal investigations, traffic incidents such as crashes and enforcement, and any incident that could have public impact or be of public interest. If Heck had not left the scene of the crash, he would have been charged with gross negligent operation and aggravated assault, Harrington wrote. . He was ordered to not have any contact or harass Scanlon, not to come within 10 feet of the courthouse or stalk Scanlon in any manner. Police say at about 9:15 a.m., people working at. The vehicle then struck two medium/large trees which caused significant contact damage to the front of the truck and tore the passenger side of the vehicle from the rest of the truck cab. Contrary to social media reports, no bomb or explosive device was involved in the attack, Doucette said. The primary cause of this crash remains under investigation, however speed appears to be a contributing factor. Please note news releases are available on this blog for 30 days following their public release. Mr. Chinnici was prosecuted based on evidence arising from these unlawful actions, though his resulting conviction was eventually thrown out. Low 29F. The Bennington Police Department and Chief Paul Doucette have earned the 2021 Environmental Leadership award from Climate Advocates Bennington. He was taken to Albany Medical Center and is in is in stable condition. Incorporate this belief into the mission, vision, goals, ethics, and oath of the Bennington Police Department. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A drug bust in Bennington on Monday ended with police arresting eight people, including one who jumped out a second-story window. Investigations are ongoing. 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. According to property management, there was nobody living at the residence as the the residence was in transition. 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. Vermont State Police have arrested two people in connection with stolen firearms from a Waterbury gun shop. ACLU of Vermont Legal Director Lia Ernst: Mr. From 3PM Thursday to 3PM today, troopers responded to 50 weather-related crashes, bringing the total for this round of winter weather to 89. A phone number police obtained for the registered owner of the Nissan, the drivers sister, Karen Heck, was found to no longer be in service, police said. Adoption of these approaches must become wide-spread and serve as principles for the Bennington Police Department. who were targeted by BPDis currently pending at the Human Rights Commission. 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. If members of the Bennington community want changes to police department operations, the Police Chief should inform the public of potential costs and benefits of that change allowing the community to make informed and appropriate decisions. Both vehicles had been travelling east shortly after 6 p.m. from Hoosick, N.Y., into Bennington. Police: Arrest made in Bennington killing. 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. This responsibility includes listening and weighing outcomes of potential decisions and policies. Hager told police at the crash scene that Hecks vehicle had passed several vehicles and he was behind it traveling east on Route 279. 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. : Mr. Troopers report they found a Chevrolet Silverado with significant . BENNINGTON, Vt. . When they arrived, authorities say they found an 18-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the torso. Doucette said he wanted to point out a misconception repeated on social media that the body was 200 yards from the scene of the crash, when Heck actually was found approximately that distance from Route 279 but much farther toward the New York line from the actual crash site near the Austin Hill Road underpass. 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. Bennington Police Department leadership need to continue to emphasize and prioritize equally both the physical safety and mental well-being of officers and staff. A weapon believed to be involved in the attack was recovered by officers, he said in the release. or the public information officer. Don't miss the big stories. He added that safety concerns for the officers played a role in a police decision to suspend a ground search with a K-9 unit the night of the crash, while police in cruisers afterward continued to patrol that night around nearby roads. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) The Bennington Police Department touting a large drug bust on Tuesday. 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. The incident is the first reported homicide case in Bennington or the county this year. Police investigated a report of an explosive device found at a property in Bennington on Thursday. 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. COURT DATE/TIME: 02/27/2023 at 0815 hours. The vehicle ultimately came to rest in the center of Burgess Road. However, as communities, elected officials, appointed officials and the Bennington Police Department are developing new and innovative approaches to public safety, the focus should expand beyond just policies and procedures to include both the broader criminal justice and public health ecosystems: Maximize available, thoughtful resources, similar to the process for recommendations from the Commission of Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. 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. Email jtherrien@benningtonbanner.com. South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 652-6300 . Superhero 5K - November, 2022. . 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. Shortly after the incident, someone ignited fireworks in the area of Depot Street, he explained. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) Vermont State Police were dispatched to a one-car crash with ejection on Burgess Road in Woodford. Posted: Feb 27, 2023 / 10:10 PM EST. Vermont State Police and the Bennington County Sheriffs Department also responded to the incident. Hager told police Heck then began to apply his brakes, and slowed to about 25 miles per hour. 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. by: Courtney Ward. Mr. Chinnici was seized in front of family, handcuffed, and charged with the robbery. or the public information officer. He said he stopped after the crash and asked if Heck was OK, and Heck repeatedly said he was before running from the scene to the south of the highway near the Austin Hill Road underpass. You . Recently, according to the affidavit, Wright approached an officer telling him to arrest a former judge for driving under the influence. Ralph Wright Jr., 64, was arraigned at the same courthouse he attempted to break into. After getting a description of the suspect, a BPD officer reportedly found him on School Street. Doucette then returned to pressuring Mayhew, telling him [Y]ou gotta be the one to officially say it. 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. Doucette then returned to pressuring Mayhew, telling him [Y]ou gotta be the one to officially say it. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. the court. Embrace proven, evidence-based programs that incorporate broader public health and social wellness into cohesive approaches to community wellness and public safety in Bennington. Winds light and variable. Bennington Police Department leaders and officers need to be able to speak about potential outcomes to operational changes. Riendeau was released to a sober party. BENNINGTON - Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette tests his skills against the third grade class at Monument Elementary School on Friday morning during a game of "Are you smarter than a third grader?". The witness told police the truck identified as Hagers then passed the Heck vehicle and the Nissan sped up alongside and swerved into Hagers truck before crashing and rolling over into guardrails. They say the car hit Monday is. After hours of Mayhew refusing to implicate Mr. Chinnici, BPD Chief Paul Doucette deviated from BPD policy and conducted an unrecorded and non-memorialized interview with Mayhew. Lawsuit Challenges Rights Violations by Bennington Police Officials, 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. Updated: Feb 16, 2023 / 10:48 PM EST BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) The Bennington Police Department is investigating a suspicious device that was located at 351 Overlea Road at around 9:15. 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. 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.. Lake Champlain Chocolates is hosting a free chocolate demo this afternoon from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Burlington. 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.