Thursday, February 6, 2014

WVTK Local & State News February 6, 2014

A 75-year-old man recently diagnosed with dementia who was reported missing Tuesday has been found and is okay. Robert Walker of Farmington, New Hampshire was last seen Tuesday night when he left a hotel in Fair Haven headed for his brother’s home in Addison. Walker’s son called State Police when his dad never arrived, and yesterday afternoon, Walker was found by police in Middlebury. His family was called and all were reunited at the New Haven barracks a short time later.

Health and public safety officials are warning heroin users that product sold as heroin and packaged in the same manner as heroin may instead contain pure fentanyl or fentanyl-laced heroin. The Vermont Department of Health reported earlier this afternoon it has just confirmed the cause of three deaths in Addison County in January to be overdoses from pure fentanyl. Fentanyl is an opioid drug that is up to 50 times more powerful than heroin, and much deadlier.

Police in Brandon have arrested 2 people and seized close 400 bags of heroin after raiding a home on Carver Street. At 2:30 yesterday afternoon, police executed a search warrant of the property and found 4 people inside along with 380 bags of heroin and 32 bags of crack cocaine. Police say the street value of the heroin was $7,600 while the crack would have sold for about $1,600. Two of the people were arrested, the other two were released. Brandon Police also notified the Department for Children and Families because there was a 7-year-old living at the residence.

Vermont State Police Tactical Services Unit and Crisis Negotiation Unit will be training tonight at the Charlotte Central School and Burlington Town Center. A press release says the training will begin at the Charlotte Central School at around 5:30. By 9 o’clock, the exercise will relocate to the Burlington Town Center for an active shooter scenario. The exercise should be complete by 11 p.m. During the training scenarios there will be an increased number of law enforcement vehicles and officers around. Police say while officers may appear to be armed, no live ammunition will be used during the training exercises.

A lot of folks are still cleaning snow off their cars today from the latest storm, but not everyone, and lawmakers are addressing the problem. State Representative Kurt Wright of Burlington says when snow and ice start flying off of vehicle roofs it becomes a real safety hazard and can cause accidents. He’s co-sponsoring a bill which could result in a fine starting at a hundred dollars for any driver who does not clear their car or truck. Wright says surrounding states have similar laws like this referred to as ice missile legislation.