Low 29F. Sgt. 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. The suspect resisted arrest but was detained after a brief struggle, Doucette said. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. 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. 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. Police have said the other shoe might have pulled off his foot in a wet area or stream in the woods. Police said they were advised by several witnesses that a driver, later determined to be Heck, exited the vehicle, grabbed an item from the back seat area and placed it in the front pocket of his sweatshirt.. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Troopers made contact with the operator who was identified as Riendeau (52). Winds light and variable. 317 were here. in police interrogations. Media Releases and News. Subscribe today. I stand by the actions of the officers.. Hager told police at the crash scene that Hecks vehicle had passed several vehicles and he was behind it traveling east on Route 279. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) Vermont State Police were dispatched to a one-car crash with ejection on Burgess Road in Woodford. Whenever feasible, policies and practices should be evidence-based and represent the best interest of all involved. We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. COURT: Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of. SUMMARY OF CRASH: On the above date and time, Vermont State Police were dispatched to a one car motor vehicle crash with ejection on Burgess Road in the Town of Woodford. If Heck had not left the scene of the crash, he would have been charged with gross negligent operation and aggravated assault, Harrington wrote. COURT DATE/TIME: 02/27/2023 at 0815 hours. COURT: Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of, the court. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) The Bennington Police Department touting a large drug bust on Tuesday. 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. 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. A similar proposal was one of many police reforms opposed and defeated by law enforcement leaders last year. 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. According to the police affidavit in the case, on March 1, Wright Jr. posted a video on social media of himself entering a code into an employee door of the Bennington Courthouse after the building was closed. 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. Wright faces a maximum six months in jail and a $250 fine, if convicted on the count. He is charged with one count of attempted unlawful trespass into a building-a misdemeanor. Jelley was subsequently transported to Albany Medical Center for further treatment. 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. Bennington County States Attorney Erica Marthage couldnt immediately be reached for comment. The Advocates recognize the departments forward thinking and action to reduce their carbon footprint by purchasing hybrid vehicles and their growing e-bike program. Snow this morning will transition to snow showers this afternoon. 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 Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. 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. Mr. Chinnici now asserts that BPD officials and the Town of Bennington violated his federal and state constitutional rights. According to police, the device was confirmed to be an energetic destructive device. Stay informed and read the latest news today from The Associated Press, . Harrington reported that Bombard said he last saw Heck around 4 p.m. the night of the crash. 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. Doucette then returned to pressuring Mayhew, telling him [Y]ou gotta be the one to officially say it. Bennington Police say an officer investigating a separate incident near Route 279 Tuesday heard shots nearby. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE. Police did speak to the contact on Sunday, Jan. 10, and were told they had not seen Heck since Friday morning. Police say there is no danger to the public, and no one has been reported injured. Jim Therrien writes for the Vermont News and Media newspapers, including the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal and Brattleboro Reformer. A weapon believed to be involved in the attack was recovered by officers, he said in the release. Jim Therrien writes for New England Newspapers in Southern Vermont. Wright was released after pleading not guilty to the charge. 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. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 01:19 PM EST. They also checked with Southwestern Vermont Medical Center but were told he had not been treated there. As a result, there needs to be continued alignment between the Bennington Police Department and the Bennington County State's Attorney's Office to ensure agreement on the enforcement and prosecution of criminal offenses. Bennington Police Officers are the branch of municipal government that enforces the law, but they do not make the laws. In Bennington, police said they received a false report of two student shootings one at Grace Christian School and one at Mt. Before his arraignment, Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady, in a court-ordered motion, transferred the case to Windham County, as Scanlon and James Colvin are witnesses referenced in the affidavit and are retired judges that have presided in Bennington County. 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. 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. ign up to be in the camp is usually in April or May until filled. Anthony Union High School. 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. 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. South Burlington, VT 05403 (802) 652-6300 . 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. The reports also state that witnesses, including the operator of the second vehicle, a Ford 250 pickup, Michael Hager, of Hoosick Falls, described Heck as appearing intoxicated. Syringe Services Program information card. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - A suspect is on the run after a shooting in Bennington and police say he is considered armed and dangerous. 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. Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older. According to a posting by the Bennington Police Department, they responded immediately and determined the reports were false. Press Releases. The Nissan then rolled over and came to rest about 25 feet off the north side of the highway. The Vermont Police Bomc Squad rendered the device safe and evidence was collected. 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. 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. Chance of snow 40%. While still trying to get Mr. Chinnici named as an accomplice, Bennington police arrested Mr. Chinnici without probable cause, and went on to make multiple misrepresentations in their interviews with Mr. Chinnici and in their application for a warrant to search his phone. 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. BENNINGTON Police said a male suspect has been arrested in a killing in downtown Bennington on Monday. May 13, 2022 GMT. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. An independent report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) concluded in 2020 that BPD exhibited a warrior mentality and hadlost the trust of many residents. . Wright, the son of prominent Bennington legislator Ralph Wright, who served in the . Afterward, back on the record, Doucette implied that Mayhew had named John Chinnici specifically, which Mayhew denied. 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. 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. . 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. We look forward to next year, Community Policing Advisory Review Board (CPARB), Back to School Backpack Event - coming Aug. 18th, 2022, Police Officers Receive Mental Health First Aid Training - April, 2022, Bennington Police Department Welcomes Three Recruits - January, 2022, Bennington Police Department Receives Environmental Leadership Award - October, 2021, Doucette Wins VTrans Highway Safety Award, Tenets of the Bennington Police Department - Moving Forward, Members of the Bennington Police Department are raising cancer awareness, Helping Vermonters Reduce their Risk of Opioid Overdose. 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. After an attempt was made to locate Wright, an arrest warrant was issued. Additional factors, he said, include other drivers who witnessed what was described as a road rage incident on Route 279 on Jan. 8. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bennington Police at (802) 442-1030 or online at www.benningtonpolice.com. Members of the Bennington community need to be clear in their expectations for the police department. Recently, according to the affidavit, Wright approached an officer telling him to arrest a former judge for driving under the influence. Winds light and variable. by: Courtney Ward. The incident was first reported on. Show Transcript. Vermont State Police and the Bennington County Sheriffs Department also responded to the incident. On the above date and time, the Vermont State Police-Shaftsbury Barracks was made aware of a possible assault that occurred in the Town of Arlington, VT. Further investigation revealed that Williams had assaulted West causing an injury to his face. Email
[email protected]. 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. Bennington Police Department leadership need to continue to emphasize and prioritize equally both the physical safety and mental well-being of officers and staff. 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. Superhero 5K - November, 2022. . State and local police, along with members of the Bureau of . 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. Healing of the community means healing of all. If the Bennington County State's Attorney's Office and the Vermont Judiciary are disconnected from the Bennington Police Department, and/or the laws they are enforcing, the public loses faith in the police. The deceased is Elton Dowd, 19, of Fitchburg, Mass. 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. 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. Simultaneously State Police were advised the vehicle in question had recently been stolen from the Town of Manchester. 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. Press Releases; Top Stories. A Bennington man, Joseph Cattani, 48, is facing manslaughter and aggravated assault charges in Sharbys death. When they arrived, authorities say they found an 18-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the torso. The device was found by property management personnel who were doing work at the residence. Bennington Police are investigating a shooting late Saturday night. Police say at about 9:15 a.m., people working at. 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. Roscoe Harrington stated in a report filed Feb. 8, It is this officers belief that the cause of this crash was gross negligent operation on the part of Heck. Posted: Feb 27, 2023 / 10:10 PM EST. who were targeted by BPDis currently pending at the Human Rights Commission. They say the car hit Monday is. Hager told police Heck then began to apply his brakes, and slowed to about 25 miles per hour. Chance of snow 40%. He also told police he did not know Heck to be someone who would drink and drive, according to the reports. 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. 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. Contact Tiffany Tan . The incident reports by several officers released Tuesday morning describe what police found around 6:29 p.m. Jan. 8 at the crash scene and what witnesses told them about what led to the crash. In one report, Officer Amanda Knox said she found a 4- by 4-inch piece of denim while searching the area for Heck on Sunday. 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. Riendeau was released to a sober party. While attempting several times to acquire copies of police reports concerning the crash, family members and friends of Heck have alleged that the BPD was negligent for not trying harder to find him afterward. He had the gun. Bennington Police Department leadership should, whenever appropriate, educate the Bennington community on policies and procedures, practices, and incidents to further understanding of policing dynamics, advance transparency, and to enhance Bennington community-police engagement. The Bennington community should expect excellence, while also recognizing that Bennington Police Officers are human. The deceased is Elton Dowd, 19, of Fitchburg. Police say a male suspect in the shooting is cooperating with the investigation and that there is no danger to the public. 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. 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. Ensure that all voices are welcomed and heard. Low 29F. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time. Doucette commented following the release of multiple police . 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. After Mr. Chinnici had been unlawfully seized, Doucette interrogated Mr. Chinnici, telling him, Im not going to lie to you. Doucette then told Mr. Chinniciuntruthfullythat a witness had identified him as the gunman by a unique facial tattoo, while Mr. Chinnici maintained his innocence. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. 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. Police investigated a report of an explosive device found at a property in Bennington on Thursday. the court. Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older. Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000, RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Colin Shepley, CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Bennington, Vermont. 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.. The same year the IACP issued its findings and reform recommendations, the ACLU settled a racial profiling lawsuit against BPD, while another caseinvolving city officials retaliation against an interracial family who were targeted by BPDis currently pending at the Human Rights Commission. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Police are investigating after a suspicious explosive device was found inside a home in Bennington on Thursday. He was taken to Albany Medical Center and is in is in stable condition. The report was commissioned after revelations that Bennington officials, 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.