The Vermont State Police disseminates news releases for significant criminal or public safety incidents and arrests. These releases are not intended to document every public contact or response to a call-for-service. If you have a question regarding an incident or case, please contact your local state police barracks or the public information officer. Please note news releases are available on this blog for at least 30 days following their public release. Releases are generally archived the second month after publication. Please contact the public information officer if you need access to one that is older.

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January 31, 2026

Derby Barracks / Violation of Conditions of Release

VSP News Release-Incident

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

       

CASE#: 26A5000540

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Aaron Leonard                            

STATION: Derby

CONTACT#: 802-334-8881

 

DATE/TIME: 1/30/2026 1741 hours

INCIDENT LOCATION: Coulter St, Derby Line, VT

VIOLATION: Violation of Conditions of Release

 

ACCUSED: Shane Lontine                                              

AGE: 44

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Derby Line, VT

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

 

On the above date and time, the Vermont State Police attempted to locate Shane Lontine regarding an unrelated incident at a residence in Derby Line, VT. Lontine was not located at the residence, in violation of a curfew at the residence imposed by Court ordered conditions of release. Lontine was located a short time later at another residence in Derby Line. Lontine was issued a flash citation to appear in Orleans Criminal Court on 2/2/2026 at 12:30PM to be arraigned on a charge of Violation of Conditions of Release.

 

COURT ACTION: Yes

COURT DATE/TIME: 2/2/2026 1230PM          

COURT: Orleans Criminal Court

LODGED - LOCATION: N/A

BAIL: N/A

MUG SHOT: NOT AVAILABLE

 

*Please note:  court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of

the court. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time.

 

 

Aaron Leonard, Trooper

Vermont State Police – Derby

35 Crawford Road,

Derby, VT 05829

802-334-8881

aaron.leonard@vermont.gov

 

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Derby Barracks / First degree Aggravated Domestic Assault

 


STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

       

CASE#: 26A5000553

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Nathan Handy                             

STATION: Derby                       

CONTACT#: (802)334-8881

 

DATE/TIME: 01/31/2026@ approximately 0700 hours

INCIDENT LOCATION: Sylvester Drive in the Town of Coventry 

VIOLATION: Two counts of First Degree Aggravated Domestic Assault

 

ACCUSED: Seth Monfette                                               

AGE: 53

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Coventry, VT

 

VICTIM: (The Vermont State Police does not release the names of victims of domestic violence.)

AGE:

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE:

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

On the above date and time, The Vermont State Police received report of a family fight that occurred on the evening of 01/30/2026 from a residence located on Sylvester Drive in the Town of Coventry, VT. Investigation revealed Monfette to have caused serious bodily injury to a family member. Monfette was shortly after located and taken into custody without incident. Monfette was transported to the Vermont State Police – Derby Barracks for processing. Monfette was later ordered to be held at the Northern State Correction Facility without bail and will be arraigned in the Orleans County Criminal Court on 02/02/2026 at 12:30pm.

 

 

COURT ACTION: Y

COURT DATE/TIME: 02/02/2026 @ 1230 hours          

COURT: Orleans County 

LODGED - LOCATION:  Northern State Correctional Facility

BAIL: Held without

MUG SHOT: IMAGE INCLUDED

 

 

*Please note:  court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of

the court. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time.

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Derby Barracks / Fatal Snowmobile Crash

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH

 

CASE#: 26A5000572                                

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Sgt. Joshua Mikkola

STATION: Derby                                         

CONTACT#: 802-334-8881

 

DATE/TIME: 01/31/2026 / 1255 hours

STREET: VAST Trail 2001

TOWN: Brighton

LANDMARK AND/OR CROSS STREETS: Meadow Street

WEATHER: Cloudy        

TRAIL CONDITIONS: Groomed/Fair Condition

 

VEHICLE #1

OPERATOR: Laurie Jackson

AGE: 50

HELMET? Yes

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Proctorsville, VT

 

VEHICLE YEAR: 2021

VEHICLE MAKE: Skidoo

VEHICLE MODEL: Renegade

DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: Front end

INJURIES: Fatal

HOSPITAL: North Country Hospital, Newport, VT

 

SUMMARY OF CRASH:

On 01/31/2026, at approximately 1255 hours, the Vermont State Police was advised of a snowmobile crash resulting in serious injury on VAST Trail 2001 in the Town of Brighton, VT. The female operator, later identified as Laurie Jackson, 50, of Proctorsville VT was transported by Newport EMS to North Country Hospital located in Newport, Vermont where she was later pronounced deceased after life-saving measures.

 

Investigation revealed Jackson was traveling north on VAST Trail 2001 near Meadow Street in Brighton and failed to negotiate a left-hand turn, driving off trail to the right where the snowmobile struck a group of trees. The snowmobile sustained significant damage to the front end.

 

In addition to Newport EMS, Brighton Fire and Department of Motor Vehicles assisted on scene.

 

 

 

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Derby Barracks / Arrest on Warrant

VSP News Release-Incident

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

       

CASE#: 26A5000554

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME:  Sgt. Joshua Mikkola                           

STATION: Derby                    

CONTACT#: 802-334-8881

 

DATE/TIME: 01/31/2026 / 0906 hours

INCIDENT LOCATION: School Road, Holland

VIOLATION: Wanted Person

 

ACCUSED: Nicole Merrill                                       

AGE: 37

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Holland, VT

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT: On 01/31/2026, at approximately 0906 hours, a trooper with the Vermont State Police located Nicole Merrill, 37, of Holland at a residence on School Road in Holland. Merrill had an active warrant for her arrest. Merrill was taken into custody and transported to Northern State Correctional Facility. In review, she was wanted for failure to appear for charges of DUI- Drug and Cruelty to a Child with a bail amount of $200.00.

 

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Shaftsbury Barracks / LSA Crash

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH

 

CASE#: 26B3000367                                           

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Jared Lacoste

STATION: Shaftsbury Barracks                        

CONTACT#: 802-442-5421

 

DATE/TIME: 01/31/26 at 0458 Hours

STREET: Sunderland Hill Rd 

TOWN: Sunderland

LANDMARK AND/OR CROSS STREETS: Roaring Branch Rd 

INTERSTATE MILE MARKER: N/A

WEATHER: Clear

ROAD CONDITIONS: Clear 

 

VEHICLE #1

OPERATOR: Jonathon O. Iris

AGE: 27    

SEAT BELT? Y

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Sunderland, VT

VIOLATION: Leaving a Scene of an Accident

 

VEHICLE YEAR: 2019

VEHICLE MAKE: Toyota

VEHICLE MODEL: Tacoma 

DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: Minor

INJURIES: None

HOSPITAL: N/A

 

 

SUMMARY OF CRASH:

 

On 01/31/26 at approximately 0458 hours, the Vermont State Police-Shaftsbury Barracks was notified of a single vehicle crash in the area of Sunderland Hill Rd in the Town of Sunderland, VT. It was reported that no one was with the vehicle.

 

An investigation into the crash revealed that the operator was Jonathon O. Iris (27). Iris had caused damage to a homeowner's property. Iris was located later and issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Bennington Criminal Division, on 03/30/26 at 0830 hours to answer the charge of Leaving the Scene of an Accident. 

 

LODGED-LOCATION: N/A    

BAIL: N/A

MUG SHOT: Y

COURT ACTION: Y

COURT: Bennington

COURT DATE/TIME: 03/30/2026   0830 hours         

 

 

 

*Please note:  court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of

the court. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time.

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Berlin Barracks / Motor Vehicle Crash / DUI #1

VSP News Release-Incident

 

STATE OF VERMONT

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

VERMONT STATE POLICE

 

NEWS RELEASE

MOTOR VEHICLE CRASH

       

CASE#: 26A3000787

RANK/TROOPER FULL NAME: Trooper Alyssa Nozka                            

STATION:  Berlin Barracks

CONTACT#: 802.229.9191

 

DATE/TIME: 01/31/2026 at approximately 0102 hours

INCIDENT LOCATION: I 89 S, Berlin, VT

VIOLATION: DUI #1

 

WEATHER: Clear

ROAD CONDITIONS: Dry

 

VEHICLE #1:

OPERATOR: Erik Raymond

AGE: 50

SEAT BELT? Y

CITY, STATE OF RESIDENCE: Shelburne, VT

 

VEHICLE YEAR: 2022

VEHICLE MAKE: Mazda

VEHICLE MODEL: CX-5

DAMAGE TO VEHICLE #1: Totaled

INJURIES: None

 

SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:

 

On the above date and time, Troopers responded to a single vehicle crash on I 89 S in the Town of Berlin. Upon arrival, Troopers identified the operator of the vehicle as Erik Raymond (50) of Shelburne, VT. Troopers observed signs of impairment and subsequently arrested Raymond for suspicion of DUI. He was processed at the Berlin Barracks and later released with a citation to appear in the Washington County Superior Court, Criminal Division on February 19, 2026 at 1230 hours.

 

COURT ACTION: Yes

COURT DATE/TIME:  February 19, 2026 at 1230 hours          

COURT: Washington County Superior Court – Criminal Division

LODGED - LOCATION: N/A

BAIL: N/A

MUG SHOT: Included

 

*Please note:  court date and time are subject to change at the discretion of

the court. Please call the criminal court clerk to confirm arraignment time.

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