Police & Fire

Police report and details sent to us this morning:

“HATE MOTIVATED ASSAULT
August 2, 2016

Mariam J. Belarj, 20, of Medford, New York
OFFICER VINTON

On 7/31/16 at approximately 2107hrs, Brattleboro Officers responded to Elliot St. for a report of an assault. Upon arrival they discovered two victims. A male was attacked randomly and struck repeatedly with a beer bottle, and a female passerby was attacked because she was black. The suspects, a male and female, shouted racial slurs as they assaulted the female.

The suspects fled down Elliot St. after the assault. The victims were treated for non life-threatening injuries. Vermont State Police and the Windham County Sheriff’s Department assisted Brattleboro PD in searching for the suspects. VSP deployed their K9 Unit.

My daughter’s car was literally broken into yesterday (back window smashed completely) and everything valuable and important was stolen. This happened in the parking area for the West River Recreation area at the junction of Rte. 30 and the Williamsville Road around 3 to 4 pm. 2 trucks were seen peeling out of the parking lot heading toward Newfane. If ANYONE can contribute anything to the finding of these people please call or text Beverly Miller at 802-251-5598 now. More than $1200 worth of theft and damage was incurred by my daughter Sarah Mattingley

Every year, safety is our first priority as families begin to plan their Fourth of July festivities. Fireworks are synonymous with our celebration of Independence Day. While fireworks are the most iconic and festive way to celebrate our country’s independence, there can be dangers if fireworks are used improperly.

Fireworks are dangerous and unpredictable, especially in the hands of amateurs. Statistics show that approximately 20,000 fires, 10,500 injuries and four deaths occur annually from fireworks. On average 230 people go the emergency room every day with fireworks-related injuries in the month around the July 4th holiday, with more than half of the fireworks related injuries being burns.

The Town of Brattleboro is interested in knowing the needs of our citizens with disabilities so that during an emergency local public safety personnel can perform their jobs more efficiently and provide special assistance, as needed.

If you or someone in your household needs extra assistance during an emergency please let us know in advance. Do you use a wheelchair or need wheelchair accessible transportation? Do you have trouble hearing or are you visually impaired? Are you on oxygen or do you have any other condition that hinders you from helping yourself in an emergency?

From the Brattleboro Police:

“Lt. Carrier

On May 29, 2016 at 09:12 hours, members of the Brattleboro Police Department and Emergency Services responded to the Harris Hill Ski-Jump for a report of a possible deceased male.

Upon arrival it was determined the male was in fact deceased.

On Tuesday, May 17 there will be work on the site at 231 Vernon St, the scene of Saturday morning’s building fire from approximately 7:30am – 9:00am. A loader from the Department of Public Works will be in the area pushing back debris.

There will be alternating traffic around the area and Brattleboro Police will be on scene to help with traffic flow. Please expect minor delays during this time.

Contact Info: Michael Bucossi
Fire Chief
802-254-4831

PRESS RELEASE

Date of Incident: 05/14/16
Location of Incident: 231 Vernon St
Nature of Call: Building Fire
Time Reported: 0159 hrs
Time Under Control: 0242 hrs
Number of Alarms and Times Upgraded: 2nd alarm @ 0204 hrs

On April 5, the Selectboard reconstituted the Police-Fire Facilities Building Committee and announced a vacancy on the committee. If you are interested in serving on the committee, please submit your application on-line, or send an e-mail to the Town Manager’s office – tmsecretary@brattleboro.org, or mail or deliver the application to: Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office, Attn: Police-Fire Committee, 230 Main Street, Suite 208, Brattleboro, VT 05301.

Hey folks,

So the elected district 1 reps were kind enough make me to be a town meeting rep, despite arriving at the last moment. 

I came into the meeting tonight supportive of moving the police department to the reformer building though extremely concerned about the financial considerations.  During the course of the meeting I rediscovered that I am rather nervous public speaker but more importantly I now have doubts such that I am unsure of how to cast my vote at the next meeting.

Town Meeting Members will be asked to vote on a question that asks if they are willing to spend $4,500,000 on the relocation of the police station to Black Mountain Road.  The vote will in fact authorize the spending of about $13,000,000 above the five million dollar loan already taken out.  

The actual loan, which will include work on the West B. fire station, is in fact anticipated to be $7,760,000.  Interest on the loan, for a twenty year option, is an additional $2,740,000.  What is not calculated into the final figure is the cost of having the station on the far north end of town.  Nearly all the police business and activity occurs in the central, south and west end of town.  Not surprising.  There is almost no residential population at all in the north end.  

Consequent to that location it is therefore necessary for every town vehicle that either originates from or is destined to the police station (every cop on duty, every administrator going to a meeting from or to there, every DPW trip etc etc) is traveling four extra miles and ten minutes every roundtrip.  Take out a pencil and paper.

In a weather briefing from the National Weather Service the coldest air mass of the season is expected this weekend, with the coldest temperatures Saturday night into Sunday.

Very cold temperatures combined with strong gusty winds will allow for wind chill values to reach dangerous to potentially life threatening levels between Friday Night and Sunday night.  The lowest values will be on Saturday night and will occur across the higher elevations, where wind chill values may be as low as 30 to 50 below zero.  Valley areas will see wind chill values in the 20 to 30 below zero range.   Actual air temperatures will be below zero across the entire area on Saturday night as well.  

Was just downtown as a bunch of police, sherrif and state troopers arrived with lights flashing at the corner of Elliot and Main. People were being escorted from the bank.

The investigation into the arson fire that caused extensive damage to four apartments at 16 – 38 Valgar St. continues to be a very active, joint effort by the Brattleboro Police and Fire Departments. Both agencies, along with assistance from the VT State Police, have been working persistently since the morning of the fire, conducting dozens of interviews to gather information about the incident. At this time the investigation is continuing and the agencies are again asking for anyone who may have seen anything unusual before the time of the fire or may have any information about the fire to call the Brattleboro Police Department at 802-257-7946 or the Brattleboro Police Tips Hotline at 802-251-8188.

The Brattleboro Selectboard will hold a special meeting and public information session on Monday, November 30, 2015 at 6:00pm in the Academy School gymnasium. This is the second of three public information meetings to present information and hear public comment about the proposed alternatives for the Police-Fire Facilities Project. This meeting will be taped and rebroadcast by BCTV. ASL interpreters will be available for the deaf and hard-of-hearing community members.

The Brattleboro Town Manager’s office announces that the Selectboard is holding 3 special meetings to present information and hear public comment about the proposed alternatives for this project. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend at least one of these meetings:

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21, AT 9:00 AM, AT THE GREEN STREET SCHOOL GYM

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30, AT 6:00 PM, AT THE ACADEMY SCHOOL GYM (ASL interpreters will attend this meeting and BCTV will record it for later broadcast)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2, AT 6:00 PM, AT THE BRATTLEBORO AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL MULTI-PURPOSE ROOM

For Immediate Release – November 11, 2015

The investigation into the fire that caused extensive damage to four apartments at 16 – 38 Valgar St. has been determined to be suspicious in nature. In a joint effort, Investigators from the Brattleboro Fire Department, Brattleboro Police Department and the VT State Police have been working continuously since the morning of the fire to determine an origin and cause, and conducting interviews to gather information.

At this time the investigation is ongoing and the agencies are asking for anyone who may have seen anything unusual before the time of the fire or may have any information about the fire to call the Brattleboro Police Department at 802-257-7946 or the Brattleboro Police Tips Hotline at 802-251-8188. There is also up to a $5000 reward for any information leading to an arrest and conviction by calling 1-800-32-ARSON (1-800-322-7766).

State Police Updates and Press Release:

“UPDATE #2:

The Brattleboro Police Department and the Vermont State Police continue to investigate the untimely death of Sultan Rashed. Investigation has revealed that this death is not a suicide and in fact a death with suspicious circumstances. Investigation suggests this is not a random act and does not suggest any threats to the public in general. An autopsy is scheduled for today at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner and will focus on the cause and manner of death. 
 
Anyone who had contact with Sultan Rashed from 11/8/15 – 11/9/15 is asked to contact the Vermont State Police or the Brattleboro Police Department.

PRESS RELEASE

Date of Incident: November 7, 2015
Location of Incident: 16-38 Valgar St

Nature of Call: Building Fire

Time Reported: 6:06am
Time Under Control: 8:33am

Number of Alarms and Times Upgraded: 2nd alarm @ 6:09am; 3rd alarm at 6:16am; 4th alarm@ 7:00am

Type of Building: 2 ½ story multi-family
# of Apartments: 12

PRESS RELEASE

Date of Incident: 11/02/15
Location of Incident: Hinesburg Road
Nature of Call: Reported basement fire
Time Reported: 5:14pm
Time Under Control: 6:03pm
Number of Alarms and Times Upgraded: 2nd alarm transmitted @ 5:26pm

Brattleboro Fire Department, 103 Elliot Street * Brattleboro, VT 05301 * 802-254-4831 FAX: 802-257-2323

Michael Bucossi, Fire Chief
Peter Lynch, Assistant Chief

PRESS RELEASE

Date of Incident: 10/17/15
Location of Incident: 176 Canal Street

Nature of Call: Fire in attic

Time Reported: 04:40am
Time Under Control: 5:36am