State Police investigate retail theft, drug case, and several highway crashes
December 29, 2023 | By Waterbury Roundabout The following are compiled from recent Vermont State Police news releases.
Police ask for the public's help to identify this person of interest in a retail theft case. Store security cam image
Retail theft at Moretown Aubuchon
State police say that they received a report on Dec. 24 of a retail theft that occurred the previous week at Aubuchon Hardware on Mason Drive in Moretown.
Store staff reported multiple items taken and shared footage from a store security camera. Police ask the public for help in identifying the individual in the photo who they describe as a “person of interest” in this incident.
Anyone with information that could assist the investigation should contact the Vermont State Police Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191.
East Montpelier man cited for drugs after Waterbury traffic stop
An East Montpelier man was cited on Dec. 23 for possession of amphetamines in connection with a traffic stop that took place in Waterbury on November 17, according to state police.
Troopers said they stopped Michael Bernier, age 39, of East Montpelier, for a motor vehicle violation in Waterbury at 9:31 a.m. on Nov. 17. The police report did not say exactly where the stop occurred or what type of vehicle Bernier was driving.
Suspecting that the vehicle contained drugs, police seized Bernier’s vehicle and applied for a search warrant which was executed on Dec. 9, the report says. “While searching the vehicle, troopers found a substance which tested positive for amphetamines,” police said.
Bernier was issued a citation to appear in Washington County Superior Court-Criminal Division on Feb. 1.
Police issue false information citation after Moretown crash
Vermont State Police cited a Worcester man for giving false information to a police officer following a two-vehicle crash in Moretown recently.
The incident happened on U.S. Route 2 near Soapstone Road on Dec. 22 at about 8:30 p.m., police said.
The investigation determined that a 2008 Jeep Compass driven by Brian Fuller, 21, of Waterbury, turned left out of a driveway and headed west. A second vehicle -- a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Bradley Sargent, 45, of Worcester -- was headed east on Rt. 2 at the same time and failed to yield, resulting in a crash, police said.
During the crash investigation, police said that Sargent attempted to deflect investigators by stating the 41-year-old passenger in his vehicle was driving. Sargent’s vehicle also had two children ages 5 and 10.
Police said neither driver was injured. The passengers in Sargent’s vehicle received minor injuries and were taken to Central Vermont Medical Center. Everyone involved in the crash was wearing a seatbelt, police noted.
Police issued Sargent citations for providing false information to a police officer and for driving with a criminally suspended license. Sargent is to appear in Washington County Superior Court-Criminal Division on Feb. 15, police said.
Barre man cited for leaving the scene of an I-89 crash
State police say a Barre man left the scene of a crash on Interstate 89 in Waterbury recently.
The incident happened on Dec. 21 at 8:30 a.m. near mile marker 65.2 on I-89 southbound, according to a police report.
Troopers from the Berlin barracks responded to a report of a two-vehicle crash on Interstate 89 in Waterbury and that one of the vehicles had left the crash scene. Police said they located the vehicle that left the scene by Exit 8 in Montpelier.
The driver of that vehicle was Evan Wheeler, 40, of Barre, police said. The investigation also determined that Wheeler was driving under the influence, according to police. Wheeler was cited for DUI and leaving the scene of an accident and was scheduled to appear in Washington County Superior Court-Criminal Division on Feb. 22, according to police.
Medical event leads to I-89 rollover crash
A Michigan woman traveling on Interstate 89 in Waterbury suffered a medical emergency recently, resulting in a roll-over crash, according to Vermont State Police.
The single-vehicle crash happened on Dec. 19 just after 9:30 p.m. near mile marker 61.4, police reported.
Police determined that 21-year-old Alyssa Foley, of Traverse City, Michigan, was driving northbound when “she experienced a medical event.” Police did not say what the nature of the incident was. Foley's 2021 Subaru Forester went off into the median, overturned, and stopped in the southbound lanes of the highway, police said. The highway was closed to one lane of traffic while first responders were at the scene.
Foley was transported to Central Vermont Medical Center for reported neck pain. Speed was not a factor in the crash, police said. Foley was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash and her vehicle was totaled, police noted.