Williams was later issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division to be arraigned for the charge of Simple Assault. 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. We hope that state legislators recognize that far more needs to be done to establish meaningful police oversight and accountability protections so that all community members are safe from abuses like these, and their rights are respected., An independent report by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) concluded in 2020 that BPD exhibited a , . We look forward to next year, Community Policing Advisory Review Board (CPARB), Back to School Backpack Event - coming Aug. 18th, 2022, Police Officers Receive Mental Health First Aid Training - April, 2022, Bennington Police Department Welcomes Three Recruits - January, 2022, Bennington Police Department Receives Environmental Leadership Award - October, 2021, Doucette Wins VTrans Highway Safety Award, Tenets of the Bennington Police Department - Moving Forward, Members of the Bennington Police Department are raising cancer awareness, Helping Vermonters Reduce their Risk of Opioid Overdose. Bennington Banner Compliments of: The Bennington Banner Tenets of the Bennington Police Department - Moving Forward. Follow 21K. Elected and appointed officials are responsible for facilitating this process, ensuring thoughtful changes are implemented, and owning the outcome. or the public information officer. Share this page on your favorite Social network. Trio of Vermonters accused of kidnapping, assault . 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. The deceased is Elton Dowd, 19, of Fitchburg. Get the Android Weather app from Google Play, SP: Albany man arrested after driving while on drugs, In Chicago, adapting electric buses to winters challenges, War Room offers free meals to workers helping with, Albany Sheriff: Pair arrested for illegal gun possession. Anyone with information is asked to contact Bennington Police at (802) 442-1030 or online at www.benningtonpolice.com. BPD releases officer reports on Heck crash, aftermath. Incorporate this belief into the mission, vision, goals, ethics, and oath of the Bennington Police Department. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Because it was growing dark on Sunday, and police said they could not find a way to safely cross the fence, the search was discontinued at that point. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time. Like us on Facebook. More information Bennington police accused of negligence in missing man case Don't miss the big stories. The deceased is Elton Dowd, 19, of Fitchburg, Mass. 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. Police: Arrest made in Bennington killing. 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 The American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont is suing the Bennington Police Department on behalf of a Bennington resident who claims he was unlawfully arrested, interrogated, and searched after police repeatedly pressured witnesses to name him as an accomplice in a January 2016 armed robbery. Yesterday morning, hours before Mr. Chinnici filed his lawsuit, the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on proposed, legislation to curtail the use of misleading tactics. BENNINGTON Police said a male suspect has been arrested in a killing in downtown Bennington on Monday. Police say at about 9:15 a.m., people working at. 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. He said he stopped after the crash and asked if Heck was OK, and Heck repeatedly said he was before running from the scene to the south of the highway near the Austin Hill Road underpass. Media Releases and News. Recently, according to the affidavit, Wright approached an officer telling him to arrest a former judge for driving under the influence. Members of the Bennington Police Department and elected and appointed officials must jointly shoulder the responsibility to share expectations and offer solutions. Contact Tiffany Tan . Don't miss the big stories. Police arrested Austin Mayhew on January 14, and he ultimately admitted to being one of the two robbers. After Mr. Chinnici had been unlawfully seized, Doucette interrogated Mr. Chinnici, telling him, Im not going to lie to you. Doucette then told Mr. Chinniciuntruthfullythat a witness had identified him as the gunman by a unique facial tattoo, while Mr. Chinnici maintained his innocence. 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. Stay informed and read the latest news today from The Associated Press, . Develop an objective and clearly established evaluation process for the Bennington Police Department based on shared, understood expectations. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Occasional snow showers. While there are multiple ways to hold offenders accountable, prosecutorial and judicial discretion is an important tenet of the criminal justice system. Email jtherrien@benningtonbanner.com. Police investigate shooting in Bennington, Northern New York woman killed in 2-vehicle crash. BENNINGTON, Vt. (AP) Police took a 17-year-old male into custody near a Vermont high school after investigating a report of a . BENNINGTON, Vt. . He was taken to Albany Medical Center and is in is in stable condition. Police investigated a report of an explosive device found at a property in Bennington on Thursday. The report was commissioned after revelations that Bennington officials withheld relevant evidence from then-Attorney General T.J. Donovans investigation into racial harassment of then-local resident and state legislator Kiah Morris, as well as multiple Vermont Supreme Court decisions concerning unlawful BPD traffic stops of Black motorists. . Snow this morning will give way to lingering snow showers this afternoon. 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. He is charged with one count of attempted unlawful trespass into a building-a misdemeanor. I stand by the actions of the officers.. BPD officers had already been harassing Mr. Chinnici, including stopping him without cause simply because he was in [their] radar sights.. Subscribe today. Healing of the community means healing of all. 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. Not you. After sustained pressure by BPD, Mr. Mayhew falsely identified Mr. Chinnici as his accompliceapproximately 30 minutes. Bennington Countys last known homicide was the fatal beating of Christopher Sharby, 46, which authorities said happened in Bennington last September. The Nissan then rolled over and came to rest about 25 feet off the north side of the highway. Police did speak to the contact on Sunday, Jan. 10, and were told they had not seen Heck since Friday morning. 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. The vehicle ultimately came to rest in the center of Burgess Road. This responsibility includes listening and weighing outcomes of potential decisions and policies. All rights reserved. Posted: Feb 27, 2023 / 10:10 PM EST. According to a posting by the Bennington Police Department, they responded immediately and determined the reports were false. Vermont State Police were assisted on scene by Bennington Police, Bennington Rescue Squad, Bennington Fire Department and Walt's Towing. Upon arrival Troopers located a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 with significant damage in the middle of the roadway. COURT: Bennington Superior Court Criminal Division, *Please note: court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of, the court. A similar proposal was one of many police reforms opposed and defeated by law enforcement leaders last year. We hope that state legislators recognize that far more needs to be done to establish meaningful police oversight and accountability protections so that all community members are safe from abuses like these, and their rights are respected.. 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. Bennington Police Department leadership should, whenever appropriate, educate the Bennington community on policies and procedures, practices, and incidents to further understanding of policing dynamics, advance transparency, and to enhance Bennington community-police engagement. 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. The Bennington Police Department is withholding the suspects name until criminal charges are filed. Multiple crews responded but did not find anything. Sgt. The incident is the first reported homicide case in Bennington or the county this year. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. BENNINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) - Bennington Police are investigating a shooting late Saturday night. Adoption of these approaches must become wide-spread and serve as principles for the Bennington Police Department. BENNINGTON, Vt. (NEWS10) Vermont State Police are reporting the arrest of Max Misch, 38, of Bennington for violating the conditions of his release. The report was commissioned after revelations that Bennington officials, from then-Attorney General T.J. Donovans investigation into racial harassment of then-local resident and state legislator Kiah Morris, as well as multiple Vermont Supreme Court decisions concerning unlawful BPD traffic stops of Black motorists. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. 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. 317 were here. 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. the court. If Heck had not left the scene of the crash, he would have been charged with gross negligent operation and aggravated assault, Harrington wrote. Ralph Wright Jr., 64, was arraigned at the same courthouse he attempted to break into. Bombard also told police that Heck was not a big drinker and he did not know Heck to be a person who would drink and drive.. Prosecution and punishment should be proportional to the offense alleged and should not vary by race, wealth or status of the defendant. Police say there is no danger to the public, and no one has been reported injured. 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. He must appear at any scheduled hearings in Windham County or face a violation of release. Doucette said he wanted to point out a misconception repeated on social media that the body was 200 yards from the scene of the crash, when Heck actually was found approximately that distance from Route 279 but much farther toward the New York line from the actual crash site near the Austin Hill Road underpass.