BRANDON — Drug-related incidents and theft were in the spotlight for Brandon Police during the week of Feb. 20
The week began on Feb. 20 with a call from the Veterans Military Suicide Hotline informing police that they had received a call from an individual that was threatening self-harm. When police arrived at the person’s residence, he was found to be okay and on the phone with a crisis worker. He was then left in the care of his family. Later in the day police received information about a person of interest in an ongoing domestic issue and possible restraining-order violations. Police passed the information along to the appropriate law enforcement agency.
The principal of the Otter Valley Union High School called police on the morning of Feb. 21 concerning a suspicious event that had been reported to the school administration by one of the school custodians. Police documented the incident for informational purposes. Around lunchtime a Rossiter Street resident called to report that a suspicious white male operating a maroon/red colored car had been parked across the street from her house for approximately 45 minutes with the door open. The male allegedly knocked on her door and, after not getting a reply, returned to his vehicle and continued to watch the residence. The responding officer checked the area, but the vehicle had left prior to the arrival of the officer on scene.
In the evening, police received report of a vehicle driven in a dangerous manner in Rutland that was heading in the direction of Brandon on Route 7. A Brandon officer later located the vehicle in Brandon and stopped it. The operator was not impaired, nor did he commit any observed motor vehicle infractions. The driver was subsequently released to go on his way without further incident.
On the evening of Feb. 22, police got a call about 10-15 hypodermic needles in a bottle on the shoulder of Franklin Street near the Otter Valley Union High School. Officers recovered the bottle and disposed of the needles accordingly.
In the early morning hours of Feb. 23, an officer aided a driver on Route 73 who was stuck on Miller Hill due to the snowstorm and poor weather conditions. In the early afternoon, Police responded to a report of two young children wandering in the area of Union Street Market without an adult. The responding officer was familiar with two small children living in the area about whom similar complaints had been made. The children were located safe and sound at their residence and the children’s mother was contacted concerning the children wandering off.
On the afternoon of Feb. 24, police received a report from a residence on Wyman Road that a firearm had been stolen. Police have begun an investigation into the theft. Three hours later, K-9 Guinness was used to search a vehicle for narcotics on Wyman Road. Guinness recovered roughly 6.6 grams of Marijuana that later tested positive for Fentanyl following a preliminary field test by the investigating officer. An investigation is ongoing.
A person with dementia wandered away from a home on Union Street on Feb. 25. After responding to a missing person, police located the person in question, who was safe and in good health. Later in the day, a vehicle was reported to have slid off the road on Champlain Street. No injuries or property damage was found, and after a tow truck was brought back onto the road, police issued the driver a warning for driving too fast for road conditions.
Police received a call from 802 Spirits in Conant Square on Feb. 26 about a theft. Police are investigating the theft of alcohol by three female customers.
In other activity Brandon police:
On FEB 20
• Made traffic stops on Franklin Street and Forest Dale Road for speeding and issue one warning and two tickets.
• Responded to a report of a disabled plow truck on Forest Dale Road near the bend of Stone Mill Dam Road.
• Made a welfare check on a resident on Carver Street.
• Received information regarding a person of interest in an ongoing domestic issue
• Returned a dog found on Center Street to its owner.
On FEB 21
• Enforced traffic rules on Park Street.
• Conducted a property watch at Union Street Grocery on Union Street.
• Investigated a suspicious event at Otter Valley union High School.
• Investigated suspicious vehicle on Rossiter Street.
• Took fingerprints for a nursing license and a fish and wildlife instructor.
• Responded to a report of a dangerous driver on Franklin Street.
• Assisted Brandon Area Rescue with a medical incident on Forest Dale Road.
On FEB 22
• Made routine property checks at 802 Spirits in Conant Square, Union Street Grocery on Union Street, Otterside Animal Hospital in Conant Square and Green Mountain Garage on Franklin Street.
• Enforced speed on Conant Square.
• Took fingerprints for teacher licensure.
• Responded to a report of dangerous drug paraphernalia on Franklin Street.
• Stopped a vehicle on Champlain Street by Ballantine Drive unsafe passing and issued a warning.
On FEB 23
• Aided a motorist stuck on Route 73.
• Responded to a report to two young children wandering near union Street Market.
• Responded to a report of a loose dog in the area of Champlain Street.
• Conducted property watches at residences Deer Run Road and Mount Pleasant Drive.
On FEB 24
• Received a complaint of a stolen firearm from a residence on Wyman Road.
• Made a K-9 search for narcotics in a vehicle on Wyman Road.
On FEB 25
• Made traffic stops on North Street, High Street and Champlain Street. Warnings issued for speeding, stop sign violation and defective equipment.
• Received an accidental 911 call from a residence on Rossiter Street.
• Responded to a report of a person on Union Street.
• Aided a car that slid off the road on Champlain Street.
• Took the new Police Department OVUHS intern on a ride-a-long.
• Enforced traffic rules in downtown and stopped one vehicle.
On FEB 26
• Conducted property watches at Green Mountain Garage on Franklin Street, Heritage Family Credit Union on Franklin Street and Union Street Market on Union Street.
• Stopped a vehicle on Marble for defective equipment and issued a warning.
• Received a complaint of theft from the Brandon Liquor Store in Conant Square.
