August 12, 2026:

Edged weapons ran through this week's Vermont blotter — a machete in Barton, a knife at a Burlington grocery store, another at a Fairlee lakefront. Defendants with long records turned up repeatedly, and Brattleboro police answered with a townwide sweep that netted a dozen arrests. Also this week: a fatal teen crash in Mt. Tabor and a deportation case that has a sheriff's deputy under review.

Addison: Adam L. Irons, 34, of Pittsford was arrested Aug. 9 after a traffic stop on U.S. Route 7 in New Haven. Troopers say he showed signs of impairment and was driving without the ignition interlock device his restricted license required. He faces DUI-refusal, third offense. Read more

Bennington: Crystal Persons, 46, of Arlington was taken into custody Aug. 10 after state police responded to a reported assault at Howell's Campground. Investigators say she assaulted a family or household member, causing pain and injury. She was cited into Bennington criminal court. Read more

Caledonia: Alexander Smith, 51, of Orleans was arrested Aug. 7 after a disturbance call on Brightlook Drive in St. Johnsbury. Police say he kept a victim from leaving and from calling for help. He is charged with unlawful restraint, interference with emergency services and habitual offender, and held without bail. Read more

Chittenden: Shawn Foster, 44, listed as homeless, was arrested Aug. 10 after Burlington police say he pulled a knife on a City Market employee who tried to stop him leaving with unpaid groceries. He faces assault, robbery and resisting arrest, and is held without bail. Read more

Essex: State police are investigating a burglary on Charleston Road in Brighton. Patrick Roussel, 49, reported a saw, two speakers and cash taken from a trailer between July 20 and July 25. No arrests have been made, and the Derby barracks is seeking tips. Read more

Franklin: Berkshire farmworker Genri "Alex" Jimenez, 22, was deported to Mexico after a July 19 traffic stop in which a Chittenden County sheriff's deputy called Border Patrol. Migrant Justice says that violated Vermont's Fair and Impartial Policing Policy. Sheriff Dan Gamelin filed a complaint and opened an internal review. Read more

Lamoille: Chase Petrolito, 33, of Morrisville was cited for violating an abuse prevention order after a complaint out of Waterville on Aug. 3. Troopers from the Williston barracks determined the order had been violated. He is due in Lamoille County Superior Court on Sept. 29. Read more

Orange: Sean McGurk, 55, of Fairlee was arrested late Aug. 6 after police say he threatened several people with a knife on Lake Morey Road, then fled. A state police K-9 unit tracked him nearby. He faces aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and related charges, on $2,500 bail. Read more

Orleans: Kyle Lowe, 41, of Newport was arrested Friday after police say he brandished a machete on Main Street in Barton Village, fled into woods near the Barton River, then tried to tackle a pursuing trooper. He is charged with aggravated assault, assault on an officer and resisting arrest, and held without bail. Read more

Rutland: Asher Cooperman, 17, of Manchester was killed in a single-vehicle crash on National Forest Highway 10 in Mt. Tabor Sunday night. Troopers say the Subaru was traveling fast on the dirt roadway when it lost traction and struck a tree. Two other Manchester teens survived. Read more

Washington: Montpelier police warn of a caller falsely claiming to be an officer named "John Taylor," badge 2813, who told a resident their identity had been stolen. No such officer exists. Police urge residents to hang up and call the department directly. Read more

Windham: Brattleboro police arrested or cited 12 people Monday in a townwide operation with state police, the Vermont Drug Task Force, Corrections, Bellows Falls police and the county sheriff. Charges ranged from fentanyl and cocaine sales to trespass, retail theft and warrants. Officers fielded 81 calls. Read more

Windsor: David Thibodeau Jr., 47, of Hartland allegedly fled a July 28 traffic stop on U.S. Route 5. Troopers had learned he was driving in violation of court conditions; the vehicle was later found at his home. He faces three counts of violating conditions of release, resisting arrest and eluding. Read more

Vermont State Police:

Rutland — Animal Cruelty

Troopers responded Aug. 8 to a dog shot on Lewis Road in Poultney. Police say David Nilsen, 70, shot the animal after it came onto his property, causing serious injuries. The dog is in stable condition; Nilsen was cited. Read more

Derby — Domestic Assault

Nicholas Lantagne, 29, of Derby was taken into custody after troopers investigated a disturbance on Lynwood Drive. Police say he harmed a family member on the night of Aug. 3 in the presence of a child. He was lodged without bail. Read more

Westminster — Cocaine, VCOR

Christopher Laroche, 39, of Highgate was located Aug. 8 in Westminster and taken into custody for violating conditions of release. Troopers say the investigation produced an added cocaine possession charge. He was lodged for lack of $10,000 bail. Read more

St. Johnsbury — DUI Crash

A pickup went off Leighton Hill Road in Newbury on the night of Aug. 8 and was totaled. Troopers say the operator, Neil Blodgett Jr., 31, of Wells River, was uninjured but showed signs of impairment. He was cited for DUI. Read more

Shaftsbury — Excessive Speed

Troopers clocked a driver at 90 mph in a 55 zone on U.S. Route 7 in Bennington the evening of Aug. 7. Antonio Nicaso, 62, of Woodbridge, Ontario, was cited into Bennington criminal court for October. Read more

Thanks to the troopers, deputies, officers and dispatchers who worked these cases — including the trooper in Barton who closed on a man with a machete and the K-9 team that tracked a suspect through the dark in Fairlee. Hard work, done quietly.