By BOB MARTIN
Eagle Times Staff
SPRINGFIELD, Vt. — The Springfield Police Department has been busy of late, responding to a variety of calls ranging from trespassing, to drug DUIs, to stolen vehicles over the past month.
On Sept. 19, the department reported that blood test results came back positive for Cory Parton, who was arrested for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs on Aug. 17.
At 12:39 p.m. on Aug. 17, Springfield Police officers were dispatched to the area of the Circle K Gas Station at 14 Missing Link Road for a report of a male who was “messed up” in his vehicle. Officers arrived at the scene, made contact and identified the subject.
Parton was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, and blood test results received from the Vermont Forensic Laboratory confirmed this.
Parton was issued a criminal citation to appear in Windsor County Criminal Court on Oct. 29 to answer to the charge of DUI Drugs.
Brandon Heist is scheduled to appear in court after allegedly going to Shaw’s supermarket after being served a trespassing notice that prohibited him from being there.
Springfield Police officers responded to Shaw’s on Sept. 3, and upon arrival it was discovered that Heist was allegedly there illegally. He was located at a later date and issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court, Criminal Division, Windsor Unit on Oct. 29 at 8 a.m. for a charge of Unlawful Trespass.
On Sept. 5, Harrison Rouleau was arrested for aggravated assault and resisting arrest. According to a police report, Springfield Police received a report of an assault, and the investigation showed that during the assault Rouleau strangled the victim, resulting in injury.
The report said that officers responded, and while taking him into custody, Harrison “actively resisted, resulting in a brief altercation.” He was taken into custody and taken to Springfield Hospital for treatment of injuries.
Springfield Probation and Parole arrived with a Violation of Parole warrant and took Rouleau into custody. He was taken to the Southern State Correctional Facility. Rouleau appeared in Vermont Superior Court on Sept. 6 to answer to the alleged crimes.
On Sept. 8, the Springfield Police Department reported an arrest of Todd Benson, 48, who was allegedly found with heroin during an arrest on a charge of DUI-Drugs.
According to a report, on Aug. 6 at 1:23 a.m., Springfield Police officers observed Benson make a traffic infraction on River Street and pulled him over. During the traffic stop, Benson allegedly showed “numerous clues of impairment.” He was requested to undergo field sobriety tests, and multiple indicators of impairment were seen by officers. Benson was taken into custody on the suspicion of DUI-Drugs, and a search found that he was in possession of a drug suspected to be heroin.
A Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation was conducted and resulted in a recommendation to get a blood sample from Benson to be sent to the Vermont Forensic Laboratory for toxicology examination. Benson voluntarily provided a sample. It was discovered in the toxicology report that he had an impairing substance in his blood at the time of operation, according to the report.
Benson later reported to the Springfield Police Department to be processed and was given a criminal citation to appear in the Vermont Superior Court on Oct. 29 at 8 a.m. for the charges of DUI-Drug and Possession of Heroin.
On Sept. 4 at 2:46 p.m. a fully marked Springfield Police patrol vehicle was traveling east on Route 11 when the officer saw a silver Dodge Grand Caravan traveling westbound. The reporting officer said he was familiar with the vehicle and its “regular operators,” which included Nicholas Ragucci.
The reporting officer noted that he was notified by dispatch earlier in the day that Ragucci had an active in-state warrant for his arrest with bail. The officer turned around and was able to identify Raguzzi from the rear of the vehicle. The emergency lights and sirens were activated and officers pulled over the vehicle.
When approaching the passenger side of the vehicle, officers made contact with Ragucci and detained him. He was taken into custody without issue and appeared in court on Sept. 5 for a charge of Arrest on In-State Warrant.
On Sept. 1, Rodney Cofske was arrested for an alleged DUI charge after crashing a vehicle at the intersection of South Street and Union Street.
According to the police report, at 3 a.m. an officer responded to the single motor vehicle crash and identified Cofske as the operator. It was found that he was allegedly under the influence of alcohol, and he was taken into custody without incident. He appeared in court on Sept. 17 to answer to the charge.
On Sept. 2, the Springfield Police Department reported that they made an arrest of Stephen Loewe for allegedly stealing a vehicle from the Penguin Mart parking lot on Aug. 13.
The police report stated that review of security video showed Loewe stealing the vehicle. The vehicle was later found by Springfield Police officers and Loewe was observed as the operator. He allegedly fled when officers tried to pull him over and was later apprehended on another crime.
Loewe was issued a citation to appear in Vermont Superior Court on Oct. 1 at 8 a.m. on charges of Grand Larceny, Aggravated Operation without Owners Consent, Eluding a Police Officer in a Grossly Negligent Manner.
