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. 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. Winds light and variable. Although the employees described the second robber as a Hispanic male with an accent weighing 170-190 poundscharacteristics that in no way resembled Mr. Chinniciofficers disregarded more likely suspects and immediately targeted Mr. Chinnici. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) The Bennington Police Department touting a large drug bust on Tuesday. 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. Vermont State Police and the Bennington County Sheriffs Department also responded to the incident. He is charged with one count of attempted unlawful trespass into a building, a misdemeanor. 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 - 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?". Officers reported that Hager told them Hecks vehicle then tried to pull back in front of him too soon and crashed into the front driver side fender of his truck, before the Nissan went out of control and rolled over three times. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. Don't miss the big stories. 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. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 01:19 PM EST. Wright allegedly threatened to intentionally cause a car crash with the former judge to attempt to show he drives intoxicated. 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. 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. 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. He had the gun. BPD continued pushing Mayhew to incriminate Mr. Chinnici, ignoring Mayhews invocation of Miranda rights and promising him leniency. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. BENNINGTON, Vt. . These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. 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. In Bennington, police said they received a false report of two student shootings one at Grace Christian School and one at Mt. He also told police he did not know Heck to be someone who would drink and drive, according to the reports. The cloth was found near the wildlife fence and what appeared to be blood on the fence where it was believed Heck had scaled it. Low 29F. Superhero 5K - November, 2022. . Sgt. Posted: Feb 27, 2023 / 10:10 PM EST. The driver then fled the scene on foot running south into the wooded area, police said they were told, and that the driver appeared to be intoxicated. in police interrogations. 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. 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. The male operator of the vehicle, Bradley J. Jelley was located outside the vehicle with suspected serious injuries. 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. Email jtherrien@benningtonbanner.com. Jim Therrien writes for the Vermont News and Media newspapers, including the Bennington Banner, Manchester Journal and Brattleboro Reformer. Mr. Bharara praised the outstanding investigative work of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the New York City Police Department, the United States Marshals Service, the Vermont State Police, and the Bennington Police Department. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. The suspect resisted arrest but was detained after a brief struggle, Doucette said. 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. The week-long camp is a great way for kids to learn new skills while doing fun activities and building positive relationships. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. We hope that state legislators recognize that far more needs to be done to establish meaningful police oversight and accountability protections so that all community members are safe from abuses like these, and their rights are respected., An independent report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) concluded in 2020 that BPD exhibited a , . Anyone with information is asked to contact Bennington Police at (802) 442-1030 or online at www.benningtonpolice.com. Bennington Police have been. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wright faces a maximum six months in jail and a $250 fine, if convicted on the count. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. He is charged with one count of attempted unlawful trespass into a building-a misdemeanor. Contributing factors, road rage, and DUI drugs/alcohol.. There needs to be acknowledgement and empathy shown to all regardless of position, race, religion, gender, or socio-economic standing. In addition, the specialized resources of the Vermont State Police support our local, county and federal partners in times of need. If Heck had not left the scene of the crash, he would have been charged with gross negligent operation and aggravated assault, Harrington wrote. Wright requested a court-appointed defense attorney, which was granted. 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. They said they attempted to call a possible contact for Heck but did not receive an immediate call back. The Bennington Police Department is withholding the suspects name until criminal charges are filed. Contact Tiffany Tan . Heck also had a conceal carry firearms permit from the state of Florida, where the Nissan was registered, and was seen taking something from his vehicle before running from the crash scene before police arrived. Follow 21K. He must appear at any scheduled hearings in Windham County or face a violation of release. Jelley was subsequently transported to Albany Medical Center for further treatment. 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. Mr. Chinnici was prosecuted based on evidence arising from these unlawful actions, though his resulting conviction was eventually thrown out. Jim Therrien writes for New England Newspapers in Southern Vermont. The Bennington Police Department was the first chartered municipal police department in the. Wright was released after pleading not guilty to the charge. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. The story will be updated as more information is made available. MONTPELIER, Vt. The ACLU filed a lawsuit yesterday on behalf of John Chinnici, who was unlawfully arrested, interrogated, and searched by Bennington police after they repeatedly pressured multiple witnesses and suspects to name Mr. Chinnici as an accomplice in a January 2016 armed robbery, despite the fact that Mr. Chinnici did not match witness descriptions and no other evidence connected him to the crime. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. 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. Acknowledge that past and present inequities in the Bennington community often shape views that drive calls for change. Bennington Police Officers are the branch of municipal government that enforces the law, but they do not make the laws. Bennington Police are investigating a shooting late Saturday night. COURT DATE/TIME: 02/27/2023 at 0815 hours. Ralph Wright Jr., 64, was arraigned at the same courthouse he attempted to break into. The search had been suspended on Friday night, according to the reports, because of darkness, the cold, the loss of the scent track, and not knowing if the male had a weapon.. 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 in police interrogations. 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. After getting a description of the suspect, a BPD officer reportedly found him on School Street. 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. Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000, RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Sergeant Seth Loomis, INCIDENT LOCATION: U.S. Route 7; MM: 15.6, Bennington, VT. On the evening of 2-22-23, Troopers from the Shaftsbury barracks came upon a vehicle that slid off of the travel portion of U.S. Route 7 near mile marker 15.6 in the town of Bennington, VT.