Police were granted a search warrant and rendered the scene safe at around 5 p.m. Mr. Chinnici was seized in front of family, handcuffed, and charged with the robbery. The reports also state that witnesses, including the operator of the second vehicle, a Ford 250 pickup, Michael Hager, of Hoosick Falls, described Heck as appearing intoxicated. A weapon believed to be involved in the attack was recovered by officers, he said in the release. BENNINGTON The victim in a Bennington homicide on Wednesday morning has been linked by police to a Springfield kidnapping case in late July involving a family residence with small children. The story will be updated as more information is made available. Email
[email protected]. Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. Hager told police Heck then began to apply his brakes, and slowed to about 25 miles per hour. Many police agencies throughout the United States have implemented community-focused police approaches and have policies, procedures and practices in place that emphasize the duty of care as well as strict policies and procedures around police tactics to ensure the well-being and safety of the community and officers. ACLU of Vermont Staff Attorney Hillary Rich: No one should be subjected to the dishonest and coercive tactics that John Chinnici experienced at the hands of Bennington police. The device was found by property management personnel who were doing work at the residence. Despite the employees contrary description, Mayhews refusal to name his accomplice, and no evidence connecting Mr. Chinnici with the robbery, Doucette arrested Mr. Chinnici without probable cause. Press Releases; Top Stories. Police say Patrick Mullinnex, 38, of Springfield,. COURT: Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of, the court. Police investigated a report of an explosive device found at a property in Bennington on Thursday. Elected and appointed officials are responsible for facilitating this process, ensuring thoughtful changes are implemented, and owning the outcome. Anyone with information regarding this crash is encouraged to contact Trooper Shepley at the above listed phone number. Don't miss the big stories. Wright allegedly threatened to intentionally cause a car crash with the former judge to attempt to show he drives intoxicated. Police say at about 9:15 a.m., people working at. Sauer was later processed at the Shaftsbury State Police Barracks and released with a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court Bennington Criminal Division on 02/27/2023 at 0815 hours. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. He had the gun. Updated: Feb 28, 2023 / 01:19 PM EST. Lawsuit Challenges Rights Violations by Bennington Police Officials, ACLU of Vermont Staff Attorney Hillary Rich, : No one should be subjected to the dishonest and coercive tactics that John Chinnici experienced at the hands of Bennington police. A second device was located inside the residence but also determined not to be destructive. In one report, Officer Amanda Knox said she found a 4- by 4-inch piece of denim while searching the area for Heck on Sunday. Don't miss the big stories. Bennington County States Attorney Erica Marthage couldnt immediately be reached for comment. BENNINGTON Police Chief Paul Doucette said Wednesday that he will stand by the actions of his officers following the Jan. 8 rollover crash of a pickup being driven by Hans Heck, who left the scene and was found three days later in a wooded area, having died of hypothermia. The Bennington Police Department is withholding the suspects name until criminal charges are filed. BENNINGTON Bennington Police have released the name of the individual who fell to their death off the Chapel Road-Route 279 overpass on Feb. 20. Lake Champlain Chocolates is hosting a free chocolate demo this afternoon from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Burlington. BPD continued pushing Mayhew to incriminate Mr. Chinnici, ignoring Mayhews invocation of Miranda rights and promising him leniency. A cell phone also was found, but it could not be accessed because it was fingerprint password protected, police said. However, as communities, elected officials, appointed officials and the Bennington Police Department are developing new and innovative approaches to public safety, the focus should expand beyond just policies and procedures to include both the broader criminal justice and public health ecosystems: Maximize available, thoughtful resources, similar to the process for recommendations from the Commission of Law Enforcement and the Administration of Justice. Doucette then returned to pressuring Mayhew, telling him [Y]ou gotta be the one to officially say it. in police interrogations. Pictured are scenes from a multi-vehicle crash & slide-offs this morning on I-89 in Georgia VT. ALT. Thomas "TJ" Howard, both of the Vermont State Police. Police: Arrest made in Bennington killing. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Two drug busts in Bennington have three residents facing a multitude of drug charges. Police said the material later was matched to a tear in the leg of Hecks jeans when he was found and he had been bleeding. It also has not identified the female victim. Bennington Police Department executed their . Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Referring to social media and other criticism of the departments actions from the time of the crash on a Friday night, Jan. 8, until Hecks body was found the following Monday, Jan. 11, Doucette said, I stand by the actions of the officers.. Bennington Police Department leadership and officers must continue to hold each other accountable for wrongful actions, and always remember that officers have a duty to intervene to prevent or stop the use of excessive force by another officer when it is safe and reasonable to do so. Police investigate an area of the Walloomsac River pathway in Bennington on Monday. Police detectives say that Misch went to the . Wright requested a court-appointed defense attorney, which was granted. Contrary to social media reports, no bomb or explosive device was involved in the attack, Doucette said. Officers searching the night of the crash with a K-9 unit reported hearing branches breaking in the woods near a 10-foot wildlife fence and called out, saying, Bennington Police K-9 unit. Wright was released after pleading not guilty to the charge. Copyright 2022 WCAX. The illegally obtained evidence was then used against Mr. Chinnici at trial. Ensure that all voices are welcomed and heard. Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older. BPD was unable to release the name until now because they hadn't been able to find family to notify. Doucette said Wednesday that police came to believe that Heck deliberately struck Hagers truck prior to the crash. The Bennington Police Department and Chief Paul Doucette have earned the 2021 Environmental Leadership award from Climate Advocates Bennington. Harrington reported that Bombard said he last saw Heck around 4 p.m. the night of the crash. The body has since been transported to Vermonts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy. Officers said they then began patrolling overnight on roads around the area trying to locate the driver. And there could be questions about where Heck became intoxicated, Doucette said, noting that he was reported to have been at the Man of Kent Tavern on Route 7 in Hoosick, N.Y., earlier that day. Smith & Wesson handgun, and said a conceal carry gun permit from the state of Florida was inside the wallet. the court. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. According to the police affidavit in the case, on March 1, Wright Jr. posted a video on social media of himself entering a code into an employee door of the Bennington Courthouse after the building was closed. The police reports also describe attempting to locate Heck at the address on his Vermont drivers license but learning he did not live there, then checking two other addresses in Bennington where he was said to possibly be living. The deceased is Elton Dowd, 19, of Fitchburg. Troopers made contact with the operator who was identified as Riendeau (52). While attempting several times to acquire copies of police reports concerning the crash, family members and friends of Heck have alleged that the BPD was negligent for not trying harder to find him afterward. Bennington Banner Compliments of: The Bennington Banner Tenets of the Bennington Police Department - Moving Forward. Federal money bound for Burlington Airport to fund terminal expansion Updated : Feb. 28 . Winds light and variable. The Bennington community should expect excellence, while also recognizing that Bennington Police Officers are human. Chance of snow 90%.. Incorporate this belief into the mission, vision, goals, ethics, and oath of the Bennington Police Department. Stay informed and read the latest news today from The Associated Press, . A traffic stop was conducted and the operator of the vehicle, Geoffrey Sauer was taken into custody for DUI #1, Negligent Operation, and Possession of Stolen Property. According to a news release from BPD Chief Paul Doucette, around 11:15 a.m. Monday, town police received a call about a male attacking a female along the Walloomsac River walkway between North and School streets. One driver traveling in the same direction on Jan. 8 told police the Heck vehicle earlier passed several vehicles in the breakdown lane at speeds the witness estimated at up to 100 mph, before then slowing to almost a complete stop and almost causing a crash. Healing of the community means healing of all. 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.. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Copy and paste this code into your website. The Bennington Police Department discusses in a press release, issued Jan. 11, their work following Hans Heck's vehicular crash on Jan. 8. Police say there is no danger to the public, and no one has been reported injured. This acknowledgement promotes a greater level of understanding by all, that certain embedded feelings must not be taken lightly or dismissed and will be taken into consideration when developing and receiving recommendations for changes in Bennington Police Department policies and procedures. Low 29F. They say they responded to a residence for a report of suspicious drug activity. of Ballston Spa, New York, police said in a news release. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time. Sgt. Hager told police at the crash scene that Hecks vehicle had passed several vehicles and he was behind it traveling east on Route 279. SUMMARY OF CRASH: On the above date and time, Vermont State Police were dispatched to a one car motor vehicle crash with ejection on Burgess Road in the Town of Woodford. I stand by the actions of the officers.. 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. Police said medical examiner and a toxicology reports later showed that Heck had no significant injuries as a result of the crash, and he had a blood-alcohol level of .151, well above the .08 legal limit, along with cocaine and marijuana in his system. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Police are investigating after a suspicious explosive device was found inside a home in Bennington on Thursday. 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. Bennington Police Department leaders and officers need to be able to speak about potential outcomes to operational changes. Before his arraignment, Judge Kerry McDonald-Cady, in a court-ordered motion, transferred the case to Windham County, as Scanlon and James Colvin are witnesses referenced in the affidavit and are retired judges that have presided in Bennington County. Police say a male suspect in the shooting is cooperating with the investigation and that there is no danger to the public. BENNINGTON A well-known local Bennington man was arrested late Thursday evening after he allegedly attempted to break into the Bennington Courthouse by punching in different codes in the keypad security system. Police investigate shooting in Bennington, Northern New York woman killed in 2-vehicle crash. The incident was first reported on. 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. Media Releases and News. Ultimately, the state legislature will have to decide how much longer it will tolerate these kinds of abuses before taking corrective actions to reimagine public safety and policing in Vermont., On the morning of January 11, 2016, two masked men robbed employees of Martins Mini Mart, the latest of a string of unsolved robberies in Bennington. Chance of snow 40%. In addition, the specialized resources of the Vermont State Police support our local, county and federal partners in times of need. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. Planned Parenthood to close 5 centers in north New England. The reports also note that Hecks wallet was inside the vehicle along with a .40 cal. Feb 24. He was ordered to not have any contact or harass Scanlon, not to come within 10 feet of the courthouse or stalk Scanlon in any manner. Trooper responded and located the vehicle travelling north on US Route 7. Occasional snow showers. Police tried to arrest him once a second officer arrived at the location. Come out with your hands up, but there was no response, and police did not see the person making the noise. 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. Low 29F. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. Mr. Chinnicis experience is a product of a notoriously toxic law enforcement culture in Bennington, and another shocking example of what happens when we leave it to the police to police themselves. The breaking branches were heard near a fence installed to channel deer or other wildlife to an underpass below the highway, thereby reducing the number who are struck by vehicles. . Bennington Police Chief Paul Doucette declined comment Tuesday, stating, "Further details are not being released at this time." A candlelight vigil had been set for Tuesday evening near the. He also told police he did not know Heck to be someone who would drink and drive, according to the reports. BENNINGTON Police said a male suspect has been arrested in a killing in downtown Bennington on Monday. ACLU of Vermont Legal Director Lia Ernst: Mr. When addressing problematic behavior by Bennington Police Officers, the Police Chief and Town Manager should have broad discretion in determining consequences and be able to act swiftly. Roscoe Harrington stated in a report filed Feb. 8, It is this officers belief that the cause of this crash was gross negligent operation on the part of Heck. The drivers name was known because his wallet had been found at the scene, so he might be located later, Doucette said, and police were concerned that Heck might be intoxicated and carrying a gun after one was found in his pickup. BENNINGTON, Vt. Bennington, Vt., Police have released the name of the individual who fell to their death off the Chapel Road-Route 279 overpass on Feb. 20. 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. Share this page on your favorite Social network. who were targeted by BPDis currently pending at the Human Rights Commission. Wright, the son of prominent Bennington legislator Ralph Wright, who served in the Vermont House of Representatives and served as speaker, has become well-known around town for videotaping people and officials, and calling himself a reporter. 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. VSP News Releases Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000 The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) Police took a 17-year-old male into custody near a Vermont high school after investigating a report of a . We interviewed our tech expert, Jaime Vazquez, to learn more about accessible smart home devices. Subscribe today. He was taken into custody soon after. Wright also shot a video of a vehicle belonging to former Judge Justine Scanlon, the same person still working inside the building, mentioning her by name. . the court. While speaking with Riendeau indicators of impairment were observed. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Chance of snow 40%. In addition, BPD officers made multiple misrepresentations in their application for a warrant to search Mr. Chinnicis cell phone, including omitting key details from witness descriptions of the suspect that did not match Mr. Chinnici. Acknowledge that past and present inequities in the Bennington community often shape views that drive calls for change. In a follow-up interview on Feb. 1, Hager told police he was going from Hoosick Falls, N.Y., to Home Depot in Bennington prior to the crash. Chance of snow 40%. Police found a female victim on the ground just off of the walkway suffering from a significant laceration, Doucette said. VSP News Releases Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000 The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. Winds light and variable. Headquarters | 45 State Drive | Waterbury, VT 05671 | 802-241-5000, RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper C. Shepley, INCIDENT LOCATION: US Route 7 Shaftsbury/Sunderland VT, VIOLATION: DUI #1, Negligent Operation, Possession of Stolen Property. On that Sunday, police also reported speaking with Bombard, owner of the Man of Kent. Contact: Stephanie Gomory, [email protected], 802-223-6304 x111 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 .