Police: Arrest made in Bennington killing. The Bennington Police Department discusses in a press release, issued Jan. 11, their work following Hans Heck's vehicular crash on Jan. 8. SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: ON the above date and time, Vermont State Police were advised of a be on the lookout for a Dorr Oil truck which was being operated all over the roadway on US Route 7 in the Town of Shaftsbury. 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. in police interrogations. VSP News Releases: Shaftsbury Barracks / DUI #2 Email jtherrien@benningtonbanner.com. According to police, the device was confirmed to be an energetic destructive device. Investigations are ongoing. Contact: Stephanie Gomory, [emailprotected], 802-223-6304x111. 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. ACLU of Vermont Legal Director Lia Ernst: Mr. Winds light and variable. Stay informed and read the latest news today from The Associated Press, . Acknowledge that past and present inequities in the Bennington community often shape views that drive calls for change. 2 Bennington residents arrested after search turns up firearms, drugs Contact Tiffany Tan at ttan@benningtonbanner.com or @tiffgtan on Facebook and Twitter. Please note news releases are available on this blog for 30 days following their public release. Police investigate after explosive device found at property in Bennington Develop an objective and clearly established evaluation process for the Bennington Police Department based on shared, understood expectations. There needs to be acknowledgement and empathy shown to all regardless of position, race, religion, gender, or socio-economic standing. Bennington homicide victim linked to assault, kidnapping in Springfield Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time. Vermont State Police have arrested two people in connection with stolen firearms from a Waterbury gun shop. Wright requested a court-appointed defense attorney, which was granted. Updated: Oct 12, 2022 / 05:59 AM EDT BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) Police are looking to identify two young men after an alleged theft in Bennington. This responsibility includes listening and weighing outcomes of potential decisions and policies. The Bennington Police Department, the lead investigating agency, said it continues to investigate the Monday killing and is asking anyone with information to contact Detective Sgt. Doucette said several decisions by Heck are what led to the crash and finally to his death by exposure, adding that police attempted to find him after he left the crash scene but he eluded officers. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. Chance of snow 40%. Troopers report they found a Chevrolet Silverado with significant . Contributing factors, road rage, and DUI drugs/alcohol.. Feb 24. 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. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bennington Police at (802) 442-1030 or online at www.benningtonpolice.com. 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. More information Bennington police accused of negligence in missing man case Wright faces a maximum six-months in jail and a $250 fine, if convicted on the count. BENNINGTON - The annual Back to School Backpack Giveaway, one of the area's most popular events for children, is scheduled for Aug. 18 from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Bennington Auto Mall on Performance Drive. Like us on Facebook. Hager told police Heck then began to apply his brakes, and slowed to about 25 miles per hour. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Bennington Police investigate reports of shots fired Subscribe today. ign up to be in the camp is usually in April or May until filled. Not you. After sustained pressure by BPD, Mr. Mayhew falsely identified Mr. Chinnici as his accompliceapproximately 30 minutes after Mr. Chinni had already been arrested. 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. 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. Complaints against members of the Bennington Police Department must receive thorough, timely, transparent, and objective investigation to determine the validity of the complaint, root cause of failure and work towards improvement. The Vermont State Police is a full-service law enforcement agency that provides primary law enforcement services to approximately 200 towns, 90 percent of the land mass, and 50 percent of the population in Vermont. A similar proposal was one of many police reforms opposed and defeated by law enforcement leaders last year. Police were granted a search warrant and rendered the scene safe at around 5 p.m. He is charged with one count of attempted unlawful trespass into a building, a misdemeanor. COURT: Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of. Bennington Police identify the deceased in Route 279 overpass incident After hours of Mayhew refusing to implicate Mr. Chinnici, BPD Chief Paul Doucette deviated from BPD policy and conducted an unrecorded and non-memorialized interview with Mayhew. VSP News Releases Bombard said his friend was in a good mood and not in any arguments or confrontations while at the Man of Kent, according to the report. 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.. Home Page | Vermont State Police The reports also note that Hecks wallet was inside the vehicle along with a .40 cal. Don't miss the big stories. Harrington reported that Bombard said he last saw Heck around 4 p.m. the night of the crash. or the public information officer. The Commission specifically looked at how to make systematic improvements and enhance coordination between police, judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and correctional authorities to increase the ability to prevent and control crime, prevent unnecessary incarceration, serve the victims of crime, and improve community-police engagement. 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. Low 29F. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please, We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by, Local man arrested for attempted break-in at courthouse, Southern Vermont Arts Center high school student art show reception postponed because of weather, Court deems River Bend Market assault suspect fit for trial, Fire destroys home on Northside Drive this morning, Support our journalism. 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. He then begins kicking the door and, getting no response, begins punching in numbers in an attempt to gain entry. Jelley was subsequently transported to Albany Medical Center for further treatment. Hager told police at the crash scene that Hecks vehicle had passed several vehicles and he was behind it traveling east on Route 279. Preliminary investigation revealed that Jelley's vehicle was travelling East on Burgess Road when the vehicle exited the south side of the roadway for unknown reasons. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Local man arrested for attempted break-in at courthouse. BENNINGTON, Vt. ( NEWS10) Vermont State Police were dispatched to a one-car crash with ejection on Burgess Road in Woodford. An employee at the building alerted police out of concern for a judge who was working in the building at the time. When they arrived, authorities say they found an 18-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the torso. After. The decisions and practices of the Bennington County State's Attorney's Office, The Vermont Attorney General's Office and the Vermont Judiciary directly impact public safety, particularly the trust and confidence the community has in the Bennington Police Department. The police dog found a scent to follow for a time Friday but it was eventually lost, police said. According to a Vermont State Police news release, Patrick Mullinnex, the deceased victim in Wednesday's shooting on Pleasant Street in . BPD releases officer reports on Heck crash, aftermath | Local News The cloth was found near the wildlife fence and what appeared to be blood on the fence where it was believed Heck had scaled it. A second device was located inside the residence but also determined not to be destructive. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please, We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by, Southern Vermont Arts Center high school student art show reception postponed because of weather, Court deems River Bend Market assault suspect fit for trial, Fire destroys home on Northside Drive this morning, Support our journalism. The Nissan then rolled over and came to rest about 25 feet off the north side of the highway. He added that safety concerns for the officers played a role in a police decision to suspend a ground search with a K-9 unit the night of the crash, while police in cruisers afterward continued to patrol that night around nearby roads. Don't miss the big stories. They are Trooper Paul Pennoyer and Sgt. The illegally obtained evidence was then used against Mr. Chinnici at trial. The vehicle ultimately came to rest in the center of Burgess Road. Members of the Bennington Police Department and elected and appointed officials must jointly shoulder the responsibility to share expectations and offer solutions. The incident was first reported on. Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by Bennington Police, Bennington Rescue Squad, Bennington Fire Department and Walt's Towing. 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.. BENNINGTON, Vt. The Bennington, Vt., Police Department said a suspected bomb or as police called it, "an energetic destructive device" was found Thursday inside a home at 351 Overlea Road. 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. Bennington Police Department press release Jan. 11, 2021 Troopers made contact with the operator who was identified as Riendeau (52). Bennington Countys last known homicide was the fatal beating of Christopher Sharby, 46, which authorities said happened in Bennington last September. Thomas "TJ" Howard, both of the Vermont State Police. Like us on Facebook. The witness told police the truck identified as Hagers then passed the Heck vehicle and the Nissan sped up alongside and swerved into Hagers truck before crashing and rolling over into guardrails.