July 15, 2026:
Domestic violence calls and impaired driving dominated the Vermont blotter this week, with charges filed in a dozen counties. Burlington logged its third gunfire incident in three days — an 83-year-old Vietnam veteran now faces felony charges over a parking spot. A music festival ended in an arrest, a railroad equipment theft was cracked by the suspect's choice of pillow, and troopers spent an afternoon searching a mountainside for a plane that was never there. County by county:
Addison: New Haven barracks troopers say they clocked Kobe R. Roberts, 26, of Poultney doing 70 mph in a posted 40 mph zone on Route 22A in Orwell on July 11. He was cited for excessive speed and is due in Addison County Superior Court on Aug. 31. Read more
Bennington: State police in Shaftsbury issued a public appeal on July 13 seeking information about a female chocolate Labrador found tied to a street sign in Arlington. Troopers say the dog was discovered on Route 7A near White Trail Run at about 3 a.m. on June 30. Tips can go to the Shaftsbury barracks or the VSP anonymous tip line. Read more
Caledonia: Several thousand dollars in equipment was reported stolen from Vermont Rail Systems on July 7 and 8. St. Johnsbury police say officers then found Joseph Greenwood, 45, of St. Johnsbury asleep on the stairs of the Portland Street Bridge — using the stolen backpack as a pillow. He was cited into Caledonia County Superior Court for Aug. 24; the wider investigation is ongoing. Read more
Chittenden: Paul Provost, 83, of Burlington pleaded not guilty on July 8 to reckless endangerment and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Police say he fired a handgun three times into the ground on Johnson Street after a contractor parked a van in his driveway during an emergency call. Provost, a Vietnam veteran whose caregiver says he has PTSD, surrendered and was released on conditions. Read more
Franklin: The St. Albans barracks renewed a request for public help on July 11 in an unsolved hit-and-run on Longley Bridge Road in Enosburg. Troopers say an ATV struck another vehicle and left the scene, and have released a photograph of the machine. No suspect has been identified. Read more
Lamoille: Xander Stacey, 24, of Cambridge was arrested late on July 12 after troopers responded to a reported domestic disturbance. State police say Stacey assaulted a domestic partner. He was lodged at Northwest State Correctional Facility for lack of $1,000 bail and cited into Lamoille County Superior Court on first-degree aggravated domestic assault. Read more
Orange: Alberto Martinez, 34, of Chelsea was cited on July 8 for violating an abuse prevention order. Royalton barracks troopers say they took the report on July 7 and established probable cause after investigating. Martinez is due in Orange County Superior Court on Aug. 5. Read more
Orleans: Police say a driver backed into a parked, unoccupied vehicle on Church Lane in Craftsbury on July 11 and drove off, leaving moderate front-end damage to a Honda owned by John Miller, 77, of Irasburg. Troopers identified the driver as Justice Jameson, 33, of Craftsbury and cited him for leaving the scene. He is due in court Sept. 8. Read more
Rutland: Alicia Czarnecki, 38, of Rutland Town was taken into custody on July 9 after a domestic disturbance on Crossman Drive. State police say she caused pain or bodily injury to a household member. She was cited into Rutland criminal court the next day. Read more
Washington: The National Life Do Good Fest in Montpelier ended in an arrest after security tried to remove an intoxicated man from the crowd near the stage. Police say Matthew Adams, 35, of Essex Junction turned combative and struck and bit deputies and Montpelier officers; his blood-alcohol level was later measured at roughly 0.16 percent. He faces disorderly conduct, simple assault, simple assault on a law enforcement officer and resisting arrest. Read more
Windham: Brattleboro police arrested Jesse O. Helsley on the afternoon of July 6 after a reported domestic disturbance on Landmark Hill Drive. An investigation determined he allegedly assaulted a family member, who was treated at the scene. He was charged with first-degree aggravated assault and initially held on $2,000 bail. Read more
Windsor: Troopers sent to a report of a man in the roadway on Route 14 near the Sharon–Hartford line on July 10 came away with two charges. State police say Triston E. Potter, 27, of Sharon caused bodily injury to a juvenile and had been driving impaired. He is due in Windsor County court July 28 on DUI and simple assault. Read more
Vermont State Police:
Williston Barracks — Westford DUI crash
Troopers called to a single-vehicle crash at Old Stage Road and Rogers Road in Westford on July 13 reported signs of impairment. Donald Gross, 61, of Westford was arrested on suspicion of DUI and treated for minor injuries. He is due in Chittenden County Superior Court on Sept. 15 on DUI, second offense. Read more
Berlin Barracks — Northfield reckless endangerment
Troopers responded to a disturbance on Central Street in Northfield on July 13. Police say probable cause was established that Rebecca Morin, 25, of Northfield committed reckless endangerment, with two juveniles listed as victims. She is due in Washington County Superior Court on Aug. 3. Read more
St. Johnsbury Barracks — Danville restraining order violation
State police say Joshua Stevens, 38, of St. Johnsbury failed to follow the terms of an active relief-from-abuse order, prompting an arrest in Danville on the evening of July 12. He was released on a citation to appear in Caledonia County Superior Court the next day. Read more
Westminster Barracks — Newfane conditions violation
A suspicious-vehicle call on River Road in Newfane on the morning of July 7 led troopers to Barry Matyas, 45, of Newfane, who police say was violating his conditions of release. He was cited into Windham County criminal court the same day, with bail set at $200. Read more
Derby Barracks — Westmore search called off
An automatic cellphone alert on July 13 indicating a possible plane crash on Mount Pisgah triggered a multi-agency search involving troopers, game wardens, Orleans County deputies, fire and EMS crews, drones and a National Guard aerial sweep. About three hours in, the phone's owner called to say he had been hiking and had not crashed anything. No aircraft was found, and what triggered the alert remains unclear. Read more
Our thanks to the troopers, deputies, officers, dispatchers and first responders who worked Vermont this week — including the dozens who combed a mountainside for an airplane that did not exist. Nobody complained. That is the job.