STAMFORD, Vt. — State police are seeking information related to a reported hit-and-run that took place late Wednesday morning.
Samantha Goodreau, 22, of North Adams, Mass., was southbound on Main Road in her 2014 Hyundai Elantra when she says another vehicle forced her off the road, and she collided with the guard rail on the southbound lane, and then fled.
The incident occurred at about 11:45 a.m. near Brookside Drive, and Goudreau walked to a nearby home for assistance and told the homeowner what had happened.
She was taken to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Mass., for bumps, bruises and minor head injury.
According to Trooper Lauren Ronan, the Elantra was in a position of "uncontrolled rest" within the southbound lane when she arrived. The vehicle had damage to the front passenger side bumper, hood and quarter panel. The airbags were not deployed. Vermont troopers along with Clarksburg (Mass.) Police and Massachusetts State Police were unable to locate another vehicle involved.
A description of the other vehicle involved was not provided.
There was no evidence that another vehicle collided with Goodreau's vehicle, according to state police, however, there still may have been another vehicle involved and the investigation is continuing. Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Trooper Ronan at 802-442-5421.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A Taconic High School student is facing a raft of charges after allegedly shooting a man in the hand on Monday.
The student left school grounds without permission at noontime and later was arrested by police at the high school after being found with a handgun in his possession.
School officials released a statement to parents saying the unidentified juvenile was involved in a gun-related incident off-campus and that a search found a handgun in his backpack.
According to police, dispatch received a call reporting a disturbance at a residence on Danforth Avenue and a second call reported reported gunfire. Responding units encountered an adult man with a gunshot wound to his hand.
The suspect was believed to be the student and an officer stationed at Taconic confirmed that the student had been present at school earlier in the day, before leaving without authorization. While law enforcement investigators were working with school staff, the student returned the school and was taken into custody.
The juvenile is facing charges of possession of a firearm without a Firearms Identification Card; possession of ammunition without an FID; discharge of a firearm within 500 feet of a building; assault & battery with a dangerous weapon (to wit handgun); armed robbery (firearm); carrying a firearm on school grounds; and attempted escape from a municipal lockup.
He will be arraigned Tuesday, March 21, in Central Berkshire Juvenile Court.
The school district sent the following message to parents Monday afternoon.
"During second lunch today, a Taconic High School student left school grounds and allegedly was involved in a gun altercation with a member of the community. The student returned to school approximately 30 minutes later. The Pittsfield Police Department informed us of this incident including the name of student who may be in possession of a weapon.
"A short time later we conducted our hold passing and the student was placed in custody by the Pittsfield Police. While in custody a handgun was found in the student's backpack. The student was immediately removed from the school. I would like to thank the Pittsfield Police Department and the members of the community as well as our faculty and staff who acted swiftly with the best interests and safety of our students in mind."
The name and age of the juvenile was not released.
6:58 p.m.; Write-thru with update from Pittsfield Police Department.
MONTGOMERY, Vt. — Sunday marks the 13-year anniversary of the disappearance of Brianna Maitland.
The 17-year-old was last seen at her place of employment at the Black Lantern Inn, located in Montgomery, on March 19, 2004, at approximately 11:20 p.m. Her car was discovered the next day adjacent to an abandoned farmhouse, located on Route 118, a short distance from work. There is no evidence at this time to indicate that she willingly left the area.
Investigators continue to investigate active leads in this case and believe there is a strong indication that Maitland was a victim of foul play.
The Vermont State Police, along with the Maitland family, cannot overemphasize the importance of anyone coming forward with information. The Maitland family continues to offer a $20,000 reward for information. This reward includes $10,000 for anyone who can identify the exact location of Maitland and $10,000 for anyone with information leading to the arrest of the person(s) responsible for her disappearance.
The family reward will expire on July 1, 2017, so anyone with information is encouraged to come forward as soon as possible. The State Police remain optimistic that new information will lead to a resolution in this case and is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to the resolution of this case and/or information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible. The State Police offers rewards on specific major cases with an emphasis on unsolved homicides and missing persons where foul play is suspected.
Anyone with information is asked to contact: Vermont State Police at (802-524-5993; the State Police Crime Information Tip Line at 802-241-5355; or submit an anonymous tip at www.vtips.info or by texting CRIMES (274637) with keyword: VTIPS.
More information on Maitland's case, including media reporting, on the Vermont State Police Unsolved Cases page, at vsp.vermont.gov/unsolved. Information on other missing persons can be found here.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Monday, March 13.
Carl Litchfield, 57, of Hinsdale pleaded guilty to four counts of breaking and entering in the daytime, three counts of larceny from a building, two counts of larceny over $250, and a single count of larceny under $250.
He was ordered to serve concurrent 15-month sentences at the Berkshire County House of Correction on all charges except larceny under $250. For that charge, he was given a one-year concurrent sentence and placed on one-year probation.
The charges stem from a series of break-ins at a home in Washington between July 25, 2015 and August 9, 2015.
Cases heard before Judge John Agostini on Wednesday, March 15.
Michael Cowan, 52, of Little Rock, Ark. was sentenced to six to nine years at the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction on seven counts of indecent assault and battery on a child under the age of 14.
He was found guilty by a jury on March 10 of sexually assaulting a girl who is now 15 years old in Lee between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 20011.
EASTHAMPTON, Mass. - Authorities say the vehicle of 39-year-old Joanne Ringer has been found, but she is still missing.
Ringer went missing on March 2. She had last been seen in Clarksburg and was driving her 2001 Volkswagen Jetta to Easthampton. On March 6, authorities found the vehicle in Easthampton but she remains missing.
Police are asking for any assistance in locating here. She is described as a white, standing 5-feet 7-inches tall and weighing 130 lbs. She has brown eyes, but police say she could be wearing colored contacts, and has brown hair with purple streaks. She has several tattoos including the full length of her right arm. Specifically, she has a tattoo of a female image spanning from the elbow to the wrist and she has piercings on her face and torso area.
Anyone who has seen or spoken to Ringer or knows of her whereabouts is asked to contact the Massachusetts State Police at 413-743-4700 or the district attorney's office at 413-499-1112.
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