The extensive nearly two-week search for a murder suspect in New York has concluded with the arrest of Anthony Bechand on Friday morning, close to Paul Smith’s College. Bechand, aged 53, was being sought in connection with the murder of Amanda Rodriguez, aged 41, who was discovered fatally stabbed inside a residence on Earl Lynn Court in Cohoes on September 14. According to police reports, Bechand, who was in a relationship with Rodriguez, abandoned his truck in Brighton, located just north of Saranac Lake. Authorities, including the U.S. Marshals Service, concentrated their efforts in that vicinity, employing helicopters and search dogs. On Friday morning, the New York State Police received information regarding a suspicious person walking along Route 86 at approximately 7:30 a.m. near Paul Smith’s College. Deputies from the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office and state troopers located Bechand and took him into custody.
Nighttime single-lane closures will be in place Sunday night through Saturday morning from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Work will continue on Vermont Route 9 (Western Avenue and High Street), U.S. Route 5 (Main Street), Vermont Route 30 (Linden Street), and briefly on Vermont Route 142 (Vernon Street). Flaggers will be present to direct one-way alternating traffic through multiple work zones. Motorists should be aware of raised utility structures and wet paint. Parking restrictions will be enforced during working hours. Pedestrians should watch for sidewalk detours.
A trooper from the Vermont State Police remained unharmed following a collision with a bear in Washington County, as reported by officials. According to VSP, Trooper Jae Farnum-Boylan was operating his agency-issued cruiser on Interstate 89 North in Middlesex at approximately 1:25 a.m. on Thursday when a bear emerged onto the roadway from the center median. Farnum-Boylan was unable to evade the animal and collided with the bear using the left front of the cruiser. The airbag deployed as a result of the impact. At the time of the incident, he was wearing his seat belt, and police indicated that the road conditions were wet. There were no other vehicles involved in the incident.
Almost a year following a police pursuit through Swanzey and Winchester that culminated in his arrest, a man from Winchester entered a guilty plea in Cheshire Superior Court on Thursday to several charges and received a sentence that included both state prison and county jail time, with a significant portion suspended. Demetrius Dargan, aged 33, pleaded guilty to charges of reckless conduct with a deadly weapon (motor vehicle), disobeying a police officer, operating a vehicle after being designated as a habitual offender, possession of a controlled substance, and an additional charge of reckless conduct, as per court documents. All charges originated from the incident on November 14, 2024, during which Dargan led state and local law enforcement on a chase in a stolen vehicle. For the most serious charge — reckless conduct with a deadly weapon — Judge David Ruoff sentenced Dargan to a term of two to six years in the New Hampshire State Prison. This sentence was entirely suspended for a period of seven years, contingent upon good behavior and adherence to probation.
A man hailing from New Hampshire was apprehended for his third DUI after his vehicle was found in a ditch along U.S. Route 5, as reported by the Vermont State Police. Mark Krause, aged 38, from Hinsdale, N.H., was taken into custody at 7:19 a.m. on September 24 following officers’ response to reports of a reckless driver on U.S. Route 5 south. The police discovered Krause’s car in a ditch on U.S. Route 5 near Canoe Brook Road. Upon evaluating Krause, officers suspected that he was operating the vehicle under the influence of drugs. He was arrested and transported to the Vermont State Police Westminster Barracks for processing. Subsequently, he was released with a citation to appear in court on November 25th.
A cannabis company based in Vermont has come to an agreement with the state regarding advertising regulations that it argued negatively impacted its sales. Last year, Flora Cannabis initiated legal proceedings against the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, contending that the state’s stringent advertising requirements, which necessitate the inclusion of extensive health warnings and prohibit the distribution of samples and prizes, infringed upon free speech rights, they claimed that these regulations were inequitable as they did not extend to other regulated vice industries such as gambling, alcohol, or tobacco. As part of the settlement reached this month, the CCB has stated that it will revise its guidance concerning the marketing capabilities of dispensaries, along with other concessions.