Press Releases

Incident: 18WHC001697
Date: 4/13/2018
Location: Putney
Investigating Deputy: DFC Griffus

Accused: Paul R. Sargent
Age: 35
City & State of Residence: Putney, VT

Charges: Driving with a Criminally Suspended License

Description: On 4/13/2018, the Windham County Sheriff's Office conducted a motor vehicle stop. That motor vehicle stop led to the arrest of Paul Sargent, 35, of Putney for driving with a criminally suspended license. Sargent was cited to appear at the Windham Superior Court-Criminal Division to answer to the charge.

Court Date: 5/8/2018
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 18WHC001437
Date: 3/29/2018
Location: Putney
Investigating Deputy: DFC Griffus

Accused: Jamie Brownell
Age: 35
City & State of Residence: Putney, VT

Charges: Driving without a License

Description: On 3/29/2018, the Windham County Sheriff's Office conducted a motor vehicle stop. The stop led to the arrest of Jamie Brownell, 35, of Putney. Brownell was cited to appear at the Vermont Superior Court to answer to the charge.


Court Date: 5/1/2018
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 18WHC001581
Date: 04/06/2018
Location: Bellows Falls Rd, Putney
Investigating Deputy: DFC Ian Tuttle

Accused: Jamie L. Brownell
Age: 34
City & State of Residence: Putney

Charges: License Required

Description: On April 6th, 2018 at approximately 0906 hours the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Jamie L. Brownell, 34, of Putney for driving with no license/license required.

Brownell's vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation and after a brief investigation he was arrested.

Brownell was cited into Windham County Superior Court Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 05/01/2018
Bail: N/A

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Incident: Driving Under the Influence
Date: 3/31/2018
Location: Vernon
Investigating Deputy: DFC Griffus

Accused: Rainna Morse
Age: 21
City & State of Residence: Ashuelot, NH

Charges: Driving Under the Influence

Description: On 3/31/2018, the Windham County Sheriff's Office conducted a motor vehicle stop. That motor vehicle stop led to the arrest of Rainna Morse, 21 of Ashuelot, NH. Morse was cited to appear at the Vermont Superior Court.

Court Date: 4/17/2018
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 18WHC001255
Date: 03/22/2018
Location: Ft. Bridgman Road, Vernon
Investigating Deputy: David Upton

Accused: Steven Shuey
Age: 33
City & State of Residence: Vernon, VT

Charges: Driving with a Criminally Suspended License

Description: On March 22, 2018 the Windham County Sheriff's Office cited Steven Shuey, 33, of Vernon, VT for driving with a criminally suspended license.

Shuey’s vehicle was stopped on Ft. Bridgman Rd for a motor vehicle violation. Subsequent investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Shuey. He was cited to appear in the Vermont Windham Superior Court,Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 04/24/2018
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 18WHC001398
Date: 03/28/2018
Location: 184 Westminster Rd in the Town of Putney
Investigating Deputy: DFC Ian Tuttle

Description: During the morning hours of March 28th, 2018 the Windham County Sheriff's Office was contacted regarding a vandalism on the basketball court of the playground.

Deputies arrived on scene and met with the school principal who showed them writing on the basketball court stating "I support the 2nd amendment". It was discovered that the writing was created using a form of chalk. Using the surveillance footage at the school, the individual responsible was identified and interviewed by an investigator. There is no suspected threat to children or other occupants of the school.

Upon review of the evidence available by our office and the Windham County State’s Attorney’s Office, no violations of law have been identified as of this writing. The individual has been issued a notice against trespass for the school grounds.

If you have information related to this incident, please contact DFC Tuttle at 802-365-4942.

Media Contact:
Captain Mark Anderson
802-365-4942

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Incident: 18WHC001311
Date: 03/24/2018
Location: Sand Hill Road, Putney
Investigating Deputy: DFC Ian Tuttle
Assisting Deputies/Officers: Dep. David Upton, DFC Jon Griffus, Ofc Mario Checchi and K9 Caesar

Accused: Ethan R. Dix
Age: 21
City & State of Residence: Putney Vermont

Charges:
1. Driving with a Criminally Suspended License
2. Gross Negligent Operation
3. Leaving the Scene of an Accident
4. Violation of Conditions of Release (6 Counts)

Description: On March 24th, 2018 at approximately 1750 hours DFC Tuttle was on patrol on Sand Hill Rd in the Town of Putney. He observed a Subaru traveling the opposite direction and noted that the vehicle did not have a front registration plate attached.

As DFC Tuttle began to turn around to initiate a motor vehicle stop on the Subaru, it accelerated at a high rate of speed to get away from DFC Tuttle. Unfortunately for the operator, Ethan Dix, 21, of Putney, DFC Tuttle had previously arrested him and recognized him as they passed by each other.

Dix's vehicle was found a short time later after crashing and causing damage to a local establishments lawn. Dix had fled the scene of the crash on foot. Other Deputies and Officers arrived on scene to assist in the search for Dix to include Ofc. Mario Checchi and K9 Caesar of the Bellows Falls Police Department.

Dix was later located at his residence and was taken into custody on charges of DLS, GNO, LSA, and VCR (6 counts). He was transported to the Bellows Falls Police Department for processing.

Dix was ordered held on $2,000 cash or surety bond by the court. He was transferred to the custody of Southern State Correctional Facility and will appear in Windham Superior Court Criminal Division at a later date and time.

Court Date: 03/26/2018
Bail: $2,000

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Incident: 18WHC001071
Date: 03/12/2018
Location: West Road, Vernon
Investigating Deputy: David Upton

Accused: Ryan B. Bratton
Age: 20
City & State of Residence: Guilford, VT

Charges: Violation of Abuse Prevention Order and Simple Assault

Description: On 03/12/2018 at approximately 02:40 hours, a deputy responded to the report of a disturbance at a residence in Vernon.

After a brief investigation, it was determined that Ryan Bratton had violated several conditions of a Relief from Abuse Order and assaulted a male subject. Ryan was arrested and subsequently lodged at Southern State Correctional Facility with a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court- Criminal Division to answer to the charges.


Court Date: 03/13/2018
Bail: $2500.00

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Incident: 18WHC001261
Date: 03/23/2018
Location: Gov. Hunt Road, Vernon
Investigating Deputy: Deputy David Upton

Accused: Dana S. McKenzie
Age: 36
City & State of Residence: Vernon, VT

Charges: Warrant

Description: On March 23, 2018 at approximately 03:27 hours, a deputy from the Windham County Sheriff's Office- Vernon Division responded to a residence on Gov. Hunt Rd in Vernon for a reported missing juvenile. Subsequent investigation at the scene led to the arrest of Dana McKenzie, 36, of Vernon for an outstanding warrant for Contempt of a Domestic Order.

McKenzie was arrested and transported to Southern State Correctional Facility to fulfill the term of his warrant.

Court Date: N/A
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 18WHC001206
Date: 3/19/18
Location: Intersection of Route 30 and Route 100S, Jamaica
Investigating Deputy: Tyler Cooke

Vehicle #1

Operator: Gary Hier Jr
Age: 34
Seat Belt? Yes
City, State of Residence: West Wardsboro, VT

Vehicle #2

Operator: Susan Fortier
Age: 54
Seat Belt? Yes
City, State of Residence: Putney, VT

Description:

On March 19, 2018 at approximately 1643 hours, the Windham County Sheriff's Office came upon a 2 vehicle crash in the Town of Jamaica at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 100S.

Investigation revealed that Operator #1, Gary Hier Jr, 34, of West Wardsboro, was traveling north in his 2011 GMC Yukon on Route 30 when he attempted to turn left into the dirt parking area located at the intersection of Route 30 and Route 100S. In doing so, Hier Jr. turned into the path of Vehicle #2 being operated by Susan Fortier, 54, of Putney, which was traveling south on Route 30. Hier Jr. was uninjured, while Fortier was transported to Grace Cottage Hospital for minor injuries. Route 30 was closed for a brief period of time.

Both operators were using seat belts which is believed to have prevented serious injury.

The Sheriff's Office would like to thank the Jamaica Fire Department and Rescue Inc for their assistance on scene. Scott Brooks Towing removed both vehicles.

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