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Excessive Speed in Rockingham

Incident: 25WHC002410
Date: 05/07/25
Location: Rockingham Rd, Rockingham
Investigating Deputy: Sgt. Norton #166

Accused: Christopher E. Chico
Age: 37
City & State of Residence: Arlington, VT

Charges: Excessive Speed

Description: On 05/07/25 at approximately 1830 hours, the Windham County Sheriff's Office arrested Christopher E. Chico after the vehicle he was operating was observed to be traveling 87 mph while passing another vehicle in the 50-mph speed zone. Christopher was released from the scene on a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date. He was also issued a traffic ticket for the civil speeding violation.

Court Date: 06/17/25
Bail: N/A

Criminal DLS- Putney

Incident: 25WHC002221
Date: April 25th, 2025
Location: Alice Holway/ Carol Brown Way, Putney
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond, Detective Sergeant Mario Checchi.

Accused: Wesley Sniadecki
Age: 29
City & State of Residence: Prospect, Connecticut

Charges:

1) Criminal DLS

Description: On April 25th, 2025 at approximately 00:22 hours deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office conducted a motor vehicle stop in the Town of Putney after observing a traffic violation.

Subsequent investigation revealed the operator identified as Wesley Sniadecki age 29 of Connecticut had a criminally suspended license in the State of Vermont. Sniadecki was placed under arrest and transported to the Windham County Sheriff's Office for processing. Sniadecki was then released on a criminal citation to appear at the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date.

Court Date:
Bail: N/A

DUI/Gross Neg Op/Attempt to Elude- Guilford

Incident: 25WHC002265
Date: 04/27/2025
Location: I-91 Southbound, Guilford
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Thomas Raymond, Detective Sergeant Mario Checchi
Assignment: Governor Highway Safety DUI Campaign

Accused: Thomas Holmes
Age: 43
City & State of Residence: Northfield, New Hampshire

Charges:

1) Eluding in a Grossly Negligent Manner
2) Grossly negligent operation of a motor vehicle
3) Driving Under the influence first offense


Description: On April 27th, 2025 at approximately 00:23 hours deputies with the Windham County Sheriff's Office attempted to stop a motor vehicle on I-91 Southbound in the Town of Guilford after observing the vehicle traveling at 86 miles per hour in a posted 65 and failing to maintain its lane. The vehicle eventually stopped for deputies in the area of mile marker 4.4.

Subsequent investigation lead deputies to believe the operator identified as Thomas Holmes of Northfield, New Hampshire was impaired by alcohol. The operator performed standardized field sobriety tests were further clues of impairment were observed. Holmes then gave a preliminary breath sample of 0.243 BAC. Holmes was subsequently placed under arrest and transported to the Brattleboro Police Department. At the completion of processing Holmes was transported to Southern State Correctional Facility and held until sober.

Court Date: 05/13/2025
Bail: Hold till Sober

Arrest for Excessive Speed in Jamaica

Incident:25WHC002344
Date:05/02/2025
Location:Marlboro
Investigating Deputy: David S. Gaillardetz

Accused: Ashley N Thayer
Age: 20
City & State of Residence:Vernon VT

Charges: Excessive Speed

Description: On 05/02/2025 at approximately 1507 hours, Ashley N. Thayer was arrested by the Windham County Sheriff's Office after her vehicle she was operating was observed to be traveling 73 mph in the posted 40 mph zone on VT Route 9 near the Marlboro Elementary School in Marlboro VT. Ashley 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: 07/01/2025
Bail: N/A

Arrest for DUI, Excessive Speed, Negligent Operation

Incident: 25WHC002368
Date: May 3, 2025
Location: Vermont Route 103, Rockingham
Investigating Deputy: Deputy Jason Gagne

Accused: Lans Christenson
Age: 50
City & State of Residence: Chester, Vermont

Charges:
1) Driving Under the Influence
2) Excessive Speed
3) Negligent Operation

Description: On May 3, 2025, at approximately 1828 hours, a Deputy with the Windham County Sheriff's Office observed a vehicle traveling south on VT Route 103 in Rockingham at a speed of 102 mph. in a posted 50 mph. zone. The vehicle was stopped in a parking lot on VT Route 103 in Rockingham.
Subsequent investigation led the Deputy to believe that the operator, Lans Christenson of Chester, Vermont, was impaired by alcohol. The operator performed standardized field sobriety tests in which clues of impairment were observed.

Christenson was subsequently placed under arrest.

Christenson was processed at the Bellows Falls Police Department and released to a sober adult with a citation to appear in the Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division at a later date. Officers with the Bellows Falls Police Department assisted in this investigation.

Court Date: June 17, 2025
Bail: N/A

Buckle Up Vermont Campaign

During the course of May and June, the Windham County Highway Safety Task force consisting of members of the Windham County Sheriff's Office, Bellows Falls Police Department, Brattleboro Police Department and Dover Police Department, will be conducting checkpoints and saturation patrols in support of the Buckle Up Vermont occupant protection campaign in conjunction with the NHTSA national Click it or Ticket campaign. We'd like to remind you to always buckle up, for every trip, no matter the distance.

"Buckle Up. You're Worth Every Click."

Wearing a seat belt is crucial to surviving a crash. Air bags are not enough to protect you—in fact, the force of an air bag can seriously injure or even kill you if you’re not buckled up properly. Seat belts save lives.

The Vermont State Highway Safety Office (SHSO) along with State and Local police are serious about seat belt safety. Seat belt use in Vermont in 2022 is estimated to be at 90%, yet still far too many people in our state continue to die as a result of being unrestrained when they are involved in a motor vehicle crash.


Vermont Seat Belt Law Highlights

23 V.S.A. § 1259 "Seat Belt Use over the age of 18"

Everyone in the vehicle, including backseat passengers and children, must wear seat belts properly.

The driver will receive a fine of $25.00 for a first violation; $50.00 for a second violation; $100.00 for third and subsequent violations.

Lap and shoulder belts must be worn and shoulder belts must NOT be placed behind the back or under the arm.

23 V.S.A. § 1258 "Child restraint systems; persons under age 18"

All children under the age of one, and all children weighing less than 20 pounds, regardless of age, shall be restrained in a rear-facing position, properly secured in a federally approved child passenger restraining system, which shall not be installed in front of an active air bag.

A child weighing more than 20 pounds, and who is one year of age or older and under the age of eight years, shall be restrained in a child passenger restraining system.

A child eight through 17 years of age shall be restrained in a safety belt system or a child passenger restraining system.

The driver will receive a fine of $25.00 for a first violation; $50.00 for a second violation; $100.00 for third and subsequent violations

Arrest on Warrant in Brattleboro

Incident: 25WHC001973
Date: 04/15/2025
Location: Vermont Superior Court
Investigating Deputy: David M. Whittle

Accused: Brandon Howe
Age: 44
City & State of Residence: W. Wardsboro, VT

Charges: Failure to appear on 02/27/2025 for a Pre Trial Conference

Description: On 04/15/2025 I arrested Brandon Howe on an outstanding Warrant out of Windham County. He posted bail, released and was given a Citation to appear in Windham Court.

Court Date: 04/15/2025
Bail: $500.00

Arrest on Warrant in Brattleboro

Incident: 25WHC001896
Date: 04/09/2025
Location: VermontSuperior Court
Investigating Deputy: David M. Whittle

Accused: Dana Marie Leclair
Age: 34
City & State of Residence: Brattleboro, VT

Charges: Failed to Appear on 03/10/2025 for a Status Conference

Description: On 04/09/2025 I arrested Dana Marie Leclair on an outstanding Warrant out of Windham County. She was unable to post bail and was held until brought before the Judge.

Court Date: 04/09/2925
Bail: $500.00

Arrest on Warrant in Brattleboro

Incident: 25WHC001875
Date: 04/08/2025
Location: Vermont Superior Court
Investigating Deputy: David M. Whittle

Accused: Maria May Adam’s
Age: 38
City & State of Residence: Hartland, VT

Charges: Failed to appear for a Pre Trial Conference on 03/27/2025.

Description: On 04/08/2025 I arrested Maria May Adam’s on an outstanding Warrant out of Windham County. She posted bail and was released with a Citation to appear in Windham Court.

Court Date: 04/09/2025
Bail: $200.00

Arrest on Warrant in Brattleboro

Incident: 25WHC001873
Date: 04/08/2025
Location: Vermont Superior Court
Investigating Deputy: David M. Whittle

Accused: Ella Thorne-Thomsen
Age: 40
City & State of Residence: Brattleboro, VT

Charges: Failed to appear for Arraignment on 04/01/2025

Description: On 04/08/2025 I arrested Ella Thorne-Thomsen on an outstanding Warrant out of Windham County. Bail was posted and she was released with a Citation to appear in Windham Court.

Court Date: 04/09/2025
Bail: $100.00