Engstrom, Carl. R. 24 Year Old Male from Newfane, VT

Officer Penniman

On 12/8/18 Brattleboro Police conducted a motor vehicle stop due to an equipment violation.  The operator, identified as Carl R. Engstrom, a 24 year old male from Newfane, VT, did not have a valid license. Engstrom also had a warrant for his arrest stemming from a similar operating charge.
 
Engstrom was placed under arrest due to the warrant, and the fact that he did not have a valid license.  Engstrom was transported to the Brattleboro Police Department, where he was processed, and lodged in lieu of bail.  Engstrom will appear in court on 12/10/18 at 1230 to answer for the warrant, and on 1/22/18 at 0830 for his new charge. 

Lilly C. Naha, 28, of Brattleboro, VT

Officer Hamilton

On December 13 2018 officers of the Brattleboro Police Department responded to a residence on Western Ave for a suspicious complaint. Subsequent investigation revealed that the resident Lilly C. Naha had an active warrant out for her arrest. Naha was placed under arrest, and later made bail and was released with a citation. Naha will appear in Windham County Superior Court: Criminal Division on December 18 to face the underlying charge.

Carol VanWormer, 43, of South Burlington, VT

Officer Cable

On 12/10/2018 at approximately 1619 hours Officers of the Brattleboro Police Department responded to a report of a female subject “huffing” outside a Putney Road Business.
 
Responding Officers located Carol VanWormer (43 of South Burlington) matching the description.  VanWormer was found to be in possession of an inhalant which is a violation of her court ordered conditions of release.  VanWormer was issued the conditions on 12/10/18 stemming from a criminal case where she was caught misusing inhalants. 
 
VanWormer provided law enforcement with a false name during the investigation.  VanWormer was brought to the hospital for an evaluation and later released with a citation.
 
At approximately 1936 hours Brattleboro Police received another call about a woman entering a person’s vehicle and then “huffing”.  Brattleboro Police responded and found VanWormer inside a vehicle that did not belong to her.  VanWormer was in the process of using inhalants.  VanWormer was arrested and lodged at the Brattleboro Police Department.  VanWormer was held in lieu of $1,000 bail and ordered to be in court on 12/11/18 to answer to the charges of Criminal Contempt, Misuse of Inhalants and False Information to Law Enforcement. 
 

Phyllis Parent, 29, of Brattleboro, VT

Officer Hamilton

On December 8 2018 officers of the Brattleboro Police Department were on patrol on Canal St. when they encountered Phyllis M. Parent coming out of a residence. Parent had an outstanding warrant out for her arrest. Parent was arrested and transported to the department where she was held in lieu of bail. Parent will appear in Windham County Superior Court: Criminal Division on December 10 to face the charge.

Carol Jean VanWormer, 43, of South Burlington, VT

Sgt. Eaton

On December 6, 2018 at approximately 1648 hours, Brattleboro Police responded to the intersection of Canal Street and John Seitz Drive for a report of a female in the roadway.  On arrival, Police determined that Carol Van Wormer was incapacitated after “huffing” from an aerosol can.  Evidence was seized.  She quickly recovered and moved along. 
 
Police encountered her again approx. 25 minutes later in a nearby parking lot.  She again appeared intoxicated from huffing.  More evidence was seized and she was allowed to leave.
 
Less than 10 minutes later Police received a report that Van Wormer had stolen some items from a Pharmacy on Canal Street.  She was located in the parking lot and was again intoxicated from huffing.  She was taken in to custody after a minor struggle.  She was processed at the Brattleboro Police Department and released on citation.
 
Within the next 30 minutes, Police received another call that Van Wormer was in the parking lot of a Pharmacy off of Putney Rd huffing.  She was taken into custody without incident and later released.  Van Wormer is being charged with improper possession, use, or sale of hazardous inhalants, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and retail theft.

Sorensen L. Thomas, 50, of Brattleboro, VT

Officer Hamilton

On December 5 2018 officers of the Brattleboro Police Department responded to a business on Canal St. for a suspicious complaint. Upon arrival officers met Thomas Sorensen, who appeared to be under the influence of illicit drugs. Subsequent investigation revealed that Sorensen had driven to the business but was too impaired to drive, had violated Court-ordered conditions of release by contacting a woman he came to the business with, and was in possession of heroin. Sorensen was arrested and held in lieu of bail. Sorensen will appear in Windham County Superior Court: Criminal Division on December 6 to face the charges.

Matthew Luttrull, 32, of Brattleboro, VT

Officer Cable

On 11/28/2018 at approximately 6:33 PM officers of the Brattleboro Police Department responded to a medical facility on Belmont Avenue for a report of a disorderly male subject.
 
Investigating officers learned that Matthew Luttrull (32 of Brattleboro) had engaged in fighting behavior with a male subject.  The male was not injured.  Luttrull was issued a citation to appear at court at a later date and time to answer to the charge of Disorderly Conduct.
 

Juvenile Male, Brattleboro, VT

Officer Law

On the morning of 11/19/2018, Brattleboro Police received multiple reports of vehicle tires being vandalized. These reports seemed to be primarily located on Williams Street, Elliot Street, and at the transportation center.
 
Upon further investigation it was found that one juvenile male had caused the damages done to the vehicles. The male was issued a citation to appear in court on 01/10/2019 at 0100 hours.

Dodge, Edward S. Jr 26, of Brattleboro VT

Officer Fletcher

On 12/5/18 at approximately 5:00 PM Officers from the Brattleboro Police Department responded to a local residence for a report of a domestic assault. The female victim reported facial injuries. Rescue Inc also responded to the scene to evaluate the victim.
 
Upon arrival Officers made contact with the male aggressor, identified as Edward S. Dodge Jr. who answered the door.
 
The female victim reported she had been assaulted by her boyfriend. The female reported she had been knocked down, choked and punched in the face. Her phones were taken by Dodge for the duration of the assault.
 
The female was evaluated on scene by medical personel for minor injuries and released without transport to BMH.
 
Dodge was arrested and transported to the Brattleboro Police station where he was processed for First Degree Aggravated Domestic Assault and Interference with access of Emergency Services. Dodge was ordered held without bail until his Arraignment on 12/6/18 at 1230 hours.

Captain Carignan

On 12/4/18 at around 7:45pm Brattleboro police responded to a report of gun shots in the area of 149 Canal Street. Officers responded and found that shots had been fired at 149 Canal Street and the suspects had fled. Police secured the area and detectives and additional uniformed officers were called in to assist with the investigation.

​Preliminary investigation indicates that multiple rounds were fired in the direction of 149 Canal Street. No injuries were reported. Shell casings, bullets, and bullet fragments were seized as evidence. At this time police are not releasing information about the number of shots fired or the type or caliber of shells and bullets that were recovered.

Bullets entered several different apartment units at #149. At least one bullet also passed through the building. Based on the trajectory of some bullets, police contacted nearby residents and businesses to insure no one had been injured.
Some witnesses reported seeing up to three suspects fleeing the area, described as two white males and a black male. No further description is being released at this time.

​Preliminary information suggests the perpetrators of this shooting likely targeted one of the apartments at 149 Canal Street. Police have no indication that this was a random shooting or that there is an increased danger to the general public beyond this event.

This is an active and ongoing investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Brattleboro police at 802-257-7950.