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Public meetings for Regional Policing Initiative

Windham County, VT — The Windham County Sheriff’s Office invites the public to attend a series of upcoming public meetings about the Windham County Sheriff’s Regional Policing Initiative, a forward-looking effort to improve access to rural law enforcement through shared services across municipalities.

Launched in 2023, the initiative is focused on addressing the needs of the many Windham County towns that do not have their own municipal police departments. By fostering collaboration and sharing resources among towns, the goal is to provide more consistent, reliable, and affordable policing to underserved areas.

“I fundamentally believe people need access to emergency services twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. How do we make it affordable? How do we govern it? How do we fund it?” said Sheriff Mark Anderson, who is leading the initiative. “Our current system is a 60% solution.”

The Sheriff’s Office will host four public engagement events to hear from community members, answer questions, and share information about potential models for regional policing:

July 31, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Jamaica Selectboard Meeting Room
28 Town Office Rd
Jamaica, VT

August 2, 2025 – 10:00 AM
Marlboro Community Center
524 South Road
Marlboro, VT

August 6, 2025 – 5:30 PM
NewBrook Fire Department
698 Vermont Route 30
Newfane, VT

August 7, 2025 – 5:30 PM
Putney Fire Department
21 Carl Snyder Dr
Putney, VT

These events are open to the public and intended to gather feedback about the future of policing in rural Vermont. A future meeting will be hosted based on the public’s feedback with a proposal for future action.

The push for regionalization is not new. Numerous studies commissioned over the last seventy years by the Legislature, state, and independent researchers have consistently recommended regional law enforcement services as a necessary step forward for Vermont’s rural communities.

Media Contact:
Sheriff Mark Anderson
manderso@windhamcountyvt.gov
802-365-4942 x151

DUI Arrest - Putney

Incident: 25WHC003254
Date: 06/26/2025
Location: Harlow's Sugar House, Putney
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Jacob Cohen, Deputy Ashley Pinger, Deputy Thomas Raymond

Accused: Bernard J. Witkovitch
Age: 71
City & State of Residence: Fairfield, CT

Charges: Driving Under the Influence

Description: On June 26, 2025, Deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office received the report of a suspicious vehicle traveling on Route 5 in Putney. Shortly after,Deputies located the vehicle at Harlow's Sugar House in Putney and identified the operator as Bernard J. Witkovitch.

During the investigation, Witkovitch consented to Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and was subsequently placed under arrest for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol. Witkovitch was transported to the Windham County Sheriff's Office for processing. Witkovitch was later released on a citation to appear at the Windham Superior Court - Criminal Division on 07/08/2025.

Deputies were assisted by and wish to thank the Brattleboro Police Department.

Court Date: 07/08/2025
Bail: N/A

Arrest On Instate Warrant

Incident:25WHC003274
Date:06/27/2025
Location:3806 Rte 11 Londonderry, Vermont
Investigating Deputy: David S. Gaillardetz

Accused: Jeremy M. Cary
Age: 41
City & State of Residence: Londonderry, Vermont

Charges: Warrant- Failure to Appear.

Description: On June 27th, 2025 at approximately 1727 hours, A Deputy with the Windham County Sheriff's Office was dispatched to the Magic View Motel Londonderry, Vermont for a male subject who was supposed to be out on 06/25/2025 and he refused to leave.

Subsequent investigation revealed that Jeremy M. Cary 41 had an active instate warrant for his arrest. Cary was placed under arrest and transported to Southern State Correctional Facility where he was held on bail. A citation was issued to him to appear in the Bennington Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 06/30/2025
Bail: $200.00

Driving While Suspended in Marlboro

Incident: 25WHC003400
Date: 07/05/25
Location: VT Route 9, Marlboro
Investigating Deputy: Sgt. Norton #166

Accused: Kevin G. Collins
Age: 62
City & State of Residence: Marlboro, VT

Charges: Driving While Suspended

Description: On 07/05/25 at approximately 1640 hours, Kevin G. Collins was stopped for a traffic violation on VT Route 9 in Marlboro. During the stop it was found that Kevin's privilege to operate a vehicle had been suspended for several prior DUI convictions. Kevin was released from the scene on a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 08/26/25
Bail: N/A

Petit Larceny, False Info, Arrest on Warrant Putney

Incident: 25WHC000064,25WHC00537, 25WHC002056
Date: Multiple dates through 2025
Location: South Pine Banks Road
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond, Deputy Jacob Cohen

Accused: Kalah Gharouni
Age: 41
City & State of Residence: Putney, Vermont

Charges:

1) Petit Larceny

2) False information to LEO

3) Arrest on Instate Warrant

Description: Deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office have been pursuing leads to multiple on going cases within Windham County. Through extensive investigation Deputies identified Kalah Gharouni as the perpetrator and located her at a residence on South Pine Banks Road. Gharouni was also to be found to have an Active Instate Arrest warrant for her arrest. Gharouni was taken into custody and transported to the Windham County Sheriff's Office for processing. Gharouni was then transported to Southern State Correctional Facility and held in lieu of $200 bail.

Court Date: 04/18/2025 (2056) 06/03/2025 (0064)(0537)
Bail: $200

Multiple Arrests- Putney

Incident: 25WHC002242
Date: 05/25/2025
Location: Shag Bark Hill, Putney
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond, Deputy Jacob Cohen

Accused: Mystidawn O'Connor-Richards
Age: 23
City & State of Residence: Putney, Vermont

Accused: Robert Brown
Age: 38
City & State of Residence: Putney, Vermont


Charges:

Arrest on Instate-Warrant

Description: On March 25th, 2025 at approximately 2230 hours deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Mystidawn O'Connor-Richards and Robert Brown at a residence located on Shag Bark Hill in the Town of Putney. Warrant's were issued for both Richards and Brown after they failed to appear at court. Richards and Brown were both transported to Southern State Correctional Facility and held in lieu of bail.

Court Date:
Richard's Bail: $1000
Brown's Bail: $50

Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle and Excessive Speed in Putney

Incident: 25WHC003224
Date: 06/25/25
Location: I 91 SB near mm 21.8, Putney
Investigating Deputy: Sgt. Norton #166

Accused: Kristi L. Raymond
Age: 47
City & State of Residence: Hinsdale, NH

Charges: 1) Negligent Operation of Motor Vehicle
2) Excessive Speed

Description: On the above date and time, Kristi L. Raymond was stopped by the Windham County Sheriff's Office after the vehicle she was operating was observed to be traveling 104 mph in the posted 65 mph zone on I-91 in Putney. Kristi was released from the scene on a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date. She was also issued a traffic ticket for the civil speeding violation.

Court Date: 08/19/25
Bail: N/A

Violation of Conditions of Release Arrest - Putney

Incident: 25WHC003165
Date: June 20th, 2025
Location: Putney, Vermont
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond, Detective Sergeant Mario Checchi

Accused: Roger Colby Sr
Age: 61
City & State of Residence: Claremont, New Hampshire

Charges:

1) Violation of Conditions of Release

Description: On the aforementioned date and time deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office conducted a traffic stop on Alice Holway Drive in Putney, Vermont after observing several motor vehicle violations.

Subsequent investigation revealed Roger Colby Sr as the operator and in turn was in violation of his court ordered conditions of release. Colby was placed under arrest and transported to the Windham County Sheriff's Office for processing. Colby was then released on a citation to appear before the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 08/19/2025
Bail: N/A

DUI #2, Assault on LEO, Resisting Arrest- Westminster

Incident: 25WHC003040
Date: June 14th, 2025
Location: Kurn Hattin Road / Patch Road
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond, Detective Sergeant Mario Checchi, Deputy Ian Tuttle


Accused: Spencer G. Clark
Age: 25
City & State of Residence: Grafton, Vermont


Charges:

1) Driving under the influence second offense
2) Driving under the influence second offense criminal refusal
3) Assault on Law Enforcement Officer x2
4) Resisting arrest
5) Violation of conditions of release
6) Negligent operation of a motor Vehicle


Description: On June 14th, 2025 Deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to Kurn Hattin Road for a report of a single vehicle motor vehicle accident. Upon arrival deputies located the crash vehicle abandoned. Through investigation deputies identified the occupants and proceeded to a residence on Patch Road.

Subsequent investigation through sworn verbal statements identified Spencer Clark, Age 25 of Grafton, Vermont. Deputies located Clark inside of the residence and ultimately took him into custody for the aforementioned charges.

At the completion of processing Clark was ordered held on $5000 bail at Southern State Correctional Facility.


Deputies were assisted by and want to thank the Vermont State Police Westminster Barracks, Bellows Falls Police Department, Springfield Police Department, Golden Cross Ambulance, Westminster Fire Department, and Bull Dog Towing.


Court Date: June 16th, 2025
Lodged: Southern State Correctional Facility
Bail: $5000

Drug Possession- Brattleboro

Incident: 25WHC002716
Date: May 24th, 2025
Location: Putney Road, Brattleboro Vermont

Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond
Assignment: Governor Highway Safety Grant DUI Campaign


Accused: Christopher Therieau
Age: 34
City & State of Residence: Brattleboro, Vermont

Charges:

1) Possession of Cocaine

Accused: Opal Vandusen
Age: 24
City & State of Residence: Brattleboro, Vermont

Charges:

1) Possession of Cocaine

Description: On May 24th, 2025 at approximately 2158 hours, the Windham County Sheriff's Office initiated a traffic stop on a silver Subaru Forester after observing a motor vehicle violation. Subsequent investigation led to the arrest of Christopher Therieau for possession of cocaine. As part of the investigation a purse belonging to Opal Vandusen of Brattleboro, Vermont was seized pending the application of a search warrant. Therieau was transported to the Windham County Sheriff's Office to be processed and then released on a criminal citation.

On May 30th, 2025, deputies executed a court ordered search warrant on a purse and located a small amount of suspected crack cocaine. On June 5th, 2025 Opal Vandusen was located and issued a criminal citation to appear before the Vermont Superior Court- Criminal Division- Windham Unit at a later date.

Court Date: July 22nd, 2025
Bail: N/A