Press Releases

Incident: 21WHC001438
Date: 04/27/21
Location: Back Westminster Rd, Westminster
Investigating Deputy: Sgt. Norton #166

Accused: Ezekial Neathawk
Age: 30
City & State of Residence: Chester, VT

Charges: Drive While Suspended

Description: On 04/27/21 the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Ezekial Neathawk following a stop for a traffic violation on Back Westminster Rd. Ezekial was released with a traffic ticket for speed and a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 06/22/21
Bail: N/A

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Incident: Man arrested for driving with suspended license
Date: 04/20/2021
Location: Route 30, Jamaica
Investigating Deputy: Belville #183

Accused: Kevin Nizolek
Age: 58
City & State of Residence: Stamford, CT

Charges: Driving While Suspended

Description: On 04/20/2021 at approximately 13:35 hours, the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Kevin Nizolek for the above offense, after the vehicle he was operating was stopped for a traffic violation. He was released on a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 06/15/2021
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 21WHC000861
Date: March 19, 2021
Location: Rt. 9 Marlboro VT
Investigating Deputy: DFC Timmie Vinton

Accused: Lize Breault
Age: 42
City & State of Residence: Marlboro, VT

Charges: Criminal DLS

Description: On March 3rd, 2021 WCSO was made aware of a Marlboro resident, Lize Brault, frequently operating a vehicle while having a suspended license. On March 19th, 2021, DFC Vinton initiated contact with a vehicle suspected to be operated by Brault. The operator was identified as Brault. Investigation confirmed Brault to be operating with a Criminally Suspended License and no registration.

Brault was issued a citation to appear in Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date. She was also issued a civil violation for no registration.

Court Date: May 5, 2021
Bail: n/a

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On Saturday, April 24th, the Windham County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with West River Valley Thrives and other local substance use prevention coalitions, will participate in the Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) National Drug Take Back Day. This initiative gives communities the opportunity to prevent prescription drug abuse and theft by ridding their homes of expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs. Please keep in mind the DEA cannot accept liquids, needles or sharps, only pills or patches.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue. Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to misuse and abuse. Rates of prescription drug misuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs. Additionally, simply throwing unused medicines in the trash or flushing them down the toilet risks environmental harm, theft, and poses a public health hazard.

Bring your medications for disposal on Saturday April 24th to any of the following locations:

-Windham County Sheriff's Office - 11 Jail St, Newfane
-Brattleboro Police Dept.- 62 Black Mtn Rd #101, Brattleboro
-Bellows Falls Police Dept.- 170 Rockingham St, Bellows Falls
-Wilmington Police Department- 2 E. Main St, Wilmington
-Dover Police Department- 245 VT 100, Dover

All locations listed have permanent drop boxes located in the agency's lobby, and boxes are available for pill disposal during open lobby hours, no questions asked. Please note, that due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic many of these locations may have fluctuating hours. Please call ahead to confirm hours.

If you are unable to make it to a physical drop box and would like a postage paid bag to dispose of your unwanted prescription via mail, please email Jacob Deutsch, West River Valley Thrives Project Coordinator, at WRVTCoordinator@gmail.com .

Please contact Det. Sgt. Jessica Fellows at (802)365-4942 or at jfellows@windhamcountyvt.gov for more information.

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Incident: 21WHC001316
Date: 04/19/2021
Location: East West Road, Dummerston
Investigating Deputy: Belville #183

Accused: Brian G. Coomes
Age: 55
City & State of Residence: Putney, VT

Charges: Driving While Suspended

Description: on 04/19/2021 at approximately 12:50 hours, the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Brian G. Coomes for the above offense, after the vehicle he was operating was stopped for a traffic violation. He was released on a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 06/15/2021
Bail: N/A

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Incident: 21WHC001219
Date: 04/13/2021
Location: Route 121, Saxtons River
Investigating Deputy: Belville #183

Accused: Julie M. Bright
Age: 33
City & State of Residence: Athens, VT

Charges: Driving While Suspended

Description: On 04/13/2021 at approximately 10:30 hours, the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Julie M. Bright for the above offense after the vehicle she was operating was stopped for a traffic violation. She was released on a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date: 05/25/2021
Bail: N/A

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CONTACT: Sgt. Chris Norton
802-365-4942
cnorton@windhamcountyvt.gov

Windham County, VT — The Windham County Highway Safety Task Force consisting of officers from the Windham County Sheriff's Office, Bellows Falls Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department and Dover Police Department will join law enforcement agencies nationwide April 8-12, 2021, to remind drivers about the dangers and consequences of texting and distracted driving. This annual campaign is part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) national U Drive. U Text. U Pay. high-visibility enforcement effort.

According to NHTSA, between 2012 and 2019, 26,004 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver. While fatalities from motor-vehicle crashes decreased slightly from 2018, distraction-related fatalities increased by 10%. NHTSA also reported that the number of deaths linked to driver distraction was 3,142 nationwide, or almost 9% of all fatalities in 2019. This represents a 10% increase over the year 2018, or 284 more fatalities. The distraction figure was the largest increase in causes of traffic deaths reported for 2019.

Millennials and Gen Z are the most distracted drivers, often using their cell phones to talk, text, and scroll through social media while behind the wheel. According to NHTSA research from 2017, young drivers 16 to 24 years old have been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving at higher rates than older drivers since 2007. In 2019, 9% of people killed in teen (15-19) driving crashes died when the teen drivers were distracted at the time of the crash.

“We aren’t out here for the fun of it,” said Windham County Highway Safety Task Force Coordinator, Sgt. Chris Norton. “Texting, messaging, and other forms of distracted driving are increasing habits that put everyone at risk, even those of us in law enforcement. We want drivers to focus on the most important task: hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.”

Violating Vermont’s distracted-driving laws can be costly:

-Adult Use of a Portable Electronic Device carries a minimum penalty of $162 & 2 points on your license for normal violations to a maximum penalty of $507 & 5 points on your license for work/school zone violations.

-Junior Use of a Portable Electronic Device carries a minimum penalty of $220 & 2 points on your license for normal violations to a maximum penalty of $507 & 5 points on your license for work/school zone violations.

-Texting While Driving carries a minimum penalty of $220 & 5 points on license to a maximum penalty of $479/5 points on license for repeat offenders.

The Windham County Highway Safety Task Force members and NHTSA urge drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel. If you need to text, pull over and do not drive while doing so. If you are the driver, follow these steps for a safe driving experience:

-If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Once you are safely off the road and parked, it is safe to text.

-Ask your passenger to be your “designated texter.” Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls or messages.

-Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

-Cell phone use is habit-forming. Struggling to not text and drive? Activate your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature, or put your phone in the trunk, glove box, or back seat of your vehicle until you arrive at your destination.

Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal. No text or post is worth ruining someone’s day — or taking a life. Remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay.

For more information, visit www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/distracted-driving.

You can also follow the Windham County Highway Safety Task Force on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WindhamCountyHSTF.

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Incident: 21WHC000773
Date: 3/12/2021
Location: 11 Jail Street, Newfane
Investigating Deputy: Capt. Paul Samataro

Accused: Kwesi Wilson
Age: 36
City & State of Residence: Londonderry, VT

Description: Kwesi Wilson, 36, of Londonderry was arrested by the Windham County Sheriff's Office on arrest warrants for burglary, unlawful mischief, driving with a suspended license, violations of conditions of release and possession of methamphetamine. He was transported to the Southern State Correctional Facility.

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Windham County Sheriff Mark Anderson has established the Windham County Sheriff’s Advisory, comprised of a group of county residents who will advise him on community needs, interests, and concerns as they relate to the operations in Vermont. While the Advisory has no statutory or oversight responsibility, it was established by Sheriff Anderson, who is committed to the community’s input regarding policing and services provided by the Windham County Sheriff’s Office.

The Sheriff’s Advisory meets the second Monday of each month at noon, currently via ZOOM. Citizens are encouraged to contact the Advisory if there are problems, questions, or other concerns, which need to be addressed by the group. Citizens can also access the meetings to express their concerns. The Advisory is now reviewing the department’s Fair and Impartial Policing Policy to ensure that it addresses the needs, values and concerns of Windham County.

Sheriff Anderson is a life-long resident of Brattleboro and a 2004 graduate of Brattleboro Union High School. He began his career with the Windham County Sheriff’s Office. He earned a degree in Business Administration from the Isenberg School of Management at University of Massachusetts Amherst. He is a member of the Vermont Criminal Justice Council, which serves to guide training, policy, and oversight for all of Vermont law enforcement. In July 2019, he was appointed Sheriff of Windham County by Governor Scott.

Members of the Advisory include the following:

Dr. Cliff L. Wood, Chair, a resident of Westminster since 2017, is a retired college administrator/president. He is a volunteer for the Brattleboro Area Hospice, for Loaves and Fishes, an Incorporator for Kurn Hattin Homes and School, a member of the Windham County NAACP, and a volunteer coordinator for a prison ministry at the Southern State Correctional Facility on behalf of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church.

Lamont Barnett is Windham County Assistant Judge and a Commissioner with the Vermont Housing Finance Agency. He is also a former Select Board Chair of the Town of Rockingham and a veteran of the US Navy. He was born in Bellows Falls.

Chris Day is an Assistant Principal at Brattleboro Union High School and a lifelong resident of Brattleboro.

Steffen Gillom is a doctoral student in psychology at Antioch University and is President of the Windham County NAACP. He serves on numerous boards statewide and in Windham County. He resides in Brattleboro.

John Hagen, the High Bailiff of Windham County, is a retired Air Force Officer. He lives in Guilford and is a Professor at Park University, where he designs adult education programs.

Wendy Harrison is currently the Interim Town Administrator for the Town of Vernon and most recently was Interim Executive Director of the New England Center for Circus Arts (NECCA). A resident of Brattleboro since 2015, she also serves on the Vermont Transportation Board, the Board of Directors of the Southeast Vermont Transit, and the Board of the Brattleboro Outing Club.

Jeff Lewis, photographer, is retired from a career spanning business consulting, circus management, economic development and state policy leadership. He has lived in Brattleboro for 19 years.

Dr. Etan Nasreddin-Longo, orchestral composer, is Co-Director of Fair and Impartial Policing and Community Affairs for the Vermont State Police. A long-time social justice advocate, he is also Chair of the Racial Discrepancies in Criminal Justice Advisory Panel.

Knowles Wentworth is a Police Liaison and Crisis Clinician with HCRS. A resident of Brattleboro since 2007, he came to Vermont to study Conflict Transformation and Peace at the School for International Training (SIT).

The Advisory would like to increase the number of women on the Advisory and add a high school or college student. Persons interested in joining the group are encouraged to contact Advisory Chair Cliff L. Wood at
wcsa-chair (at) windhamcountyvt.gov or Sheriff Mark Anderson at sheriff (at) windhamcountyvt.gov

Documents regarding the advisory are available on the department's website here.

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The Windham County Sheriff’s Office condemns the January 6th, 2021 insurrection that occurred in Washington D.C. and the attempt of a violent overthrow of our democracy and the United States Constitution.

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