VSP briefs: Attempted sexual assault; no injuries in rollover crash; stolen items include a motorcycle
June 20, 2025 | By Lisa Scagliotti Vermont State Police on Friday said a suspect in an April attempted sexual assault case in Duxbury turned himself in and now has a court date to face charges next week.
Nineteen-year-old Ian Apfel of Barre surrendered himself Friday at the Berlin barracks, according to a state police news release by Detective Sgt. Mathew Nadeau. Apfel was processed and released after being issued a citation to appear in Washington County Superior Court Criminal Division on June 26 to answer to the charges of attempted sexual assault and lewd and lascivious conduct with a child.
The case began on April 5 when the state police Bureau of Criminal Investigations in Berlin began an investigation into a report of an attempted sexual assault that took place on April 4 in Duxbury on River Road. Investigators linked Apfel to the incident that involves a female victim under the age of 16 who was not known to Apfel, police said.
More details of the investigation will be made public at the court hearing, police said.
Police: Driver unhurt, but impaired in Rt. 100 crash in Duxbury
Vermont State Police reported that they responded to a single-car crash on Vermont Route 100 in Duxbury on Friday evening, where the driver was unhurt but impaired.
The incident happened just after 8 p.m. near the intersection with Sunrise Avenue, according to police.
Troopers identified the driver of the 2018 Chevy Equinox involved as Harley Townsend, 32, of Morristown. The vehicle was moderately damaged but Townsend, who was wearing a seatbelt, was not hurt, police said.
The investigation determined that Townsend's vehicle crossed over the fog line, left the road roadway and crashed. The weather was clear and the road dry at the time of the crash, police noted.
Further investigation determined Townsend was impaired, police said. Townsend was taken into custody for suspicion of DUI drugs and was transported to the Stowe Police Department for processing. He was released with a citation to appear in Washington Superior Court Criminal Division on Sept. 4.
No one hurt in late-night I-89 crash in Richmond
Interstate 89 southbound was shut down for a couple of hours early Thursday morning as first responders dealt with a rollover crash involving three vehicles in which no one was seriously hurt.
The Honda CR-V in this crash was totaled, according to police. Photo courtesy of Vt. State Police
The incident happened just before 12:30 a.m. near Exit 11 in Richmond, according to state police in Williston. Troopers, EMS, and firefighters responded to the scene.
The preliminary investigation found that a 2016 Honda CR-V driven by Adam Carp, 35, of Bradford, was southbound on I-89 when his vehicle had a mechanical issue on one of the front tires, causing the car to hit the guardrail and ultimately flip over, according to the report by Trooper Ahmed Sharif.
Two other vehicles traveling behind Carp were damaged by debris from the first vehicle, police said.
Carp’s Honda came to rest in the middle of the southbound roadway, blocking both travel lanes; the other two vehicles pulled over to the shoulder, police said.
The other drivers and vehicles were a juvenile driver from Barre City in a 2006 Subaru Legacy, and 75-year-old Jeffrey Cueto, of East Montpelier, in a 2024 Tesla Model Y. Both of the other drivers were wearing seatbelts, according to police, and their vehicles had minor damages.
Troopers did not know if Carp was wearing a seatbelt. His vehicle was totaled, troopers reported. All three drivers were evaluated by EMS at the scene and released, with none being taken to the hospital, police said.
The crash resulted in the southbound lanes of I-89 at Exit 11 being closed for about two hours. The weather was clear and road conditions were dry at the time, police noted.
Motorcycle and equipment stolen in Marshfield
Vermont State Police are investigating a theft from a storage facility in Marshfield that involves a variety of tools and automotive equipment as well as a motorcycle.
The motorcycle missing from a Marshfield storage facility. Photo courtesy of Vt. State Police
The theft was reported on Wednesday at approximately 11:50 a.m. regarding multiple items taken from a storage facility located at 8053 U.S. Route 2 in Marshfield.
Among the missing items is a red 2021 Kawasaki Ninja, with a LevoVince after-market exhaust. Police provided photos of the bike.
The state police report provides a list of other items missing from the storage facility that includes: a toolbox containing Milwaukee power tools, a radiator and other engine parts, extension cords, a portable jump-starter, a car battery-charger, a battery-powered air compressor, two or three sets of winter tires, four 37.5-inch BFGoodrich Tires, a trolling motor, and two depth finders.
Troopers are seeking the public’s assistance in this case. Anyone with information that could help investigators is encouraged to contact Trooper Shawn Morrow at the Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191. Anonymous tips may be provided online at vsp.vermont.gov/tipsubmit.
Three-car crash on U.S. Rt. 2 in Middlesex
One driver was taken to the hospital from a three-vehicle crash on U.S. Route 2 near Vermont Route 100B in Middlesex on Sunday night, according to Vermont State Police.
The incident happened just before 10 p.m. when a 2016 Subaru Outback driven by 34-year-old Benjamin Harmon of Waitsfield, while navigating a curve, attempted to pass another vehicle, a 2019 Honda HR-V, driven by Ava Ure, 22, of Montpelier, police said.
A third vehicle, a Kia EV9, driven by Damian DiNicola, 48, of Randolph, was traveling in the opposite direction and hit both vehicles, according to the accident report.
After some investigation, which included a roadside screening, troopers determined that Harmon was under the influence of intoxicants, and he was taken into custody. Harmon was taken to the Berlin barracks, issued tickets and a citation to appear in Washington Superior Court Criminal Division on July 3, police said.
Ure was transported to Central Vermont Medical Center for suspected injuries, police said. Neither Harmon nor DiNicola was injured.
All three vehicles were damaged. Police noted that Ure and DiNicola were wearing seatbelts, but the report did not say whether Harmon was using a seatbelt. The weather was clear and the road dry at the time of the crash, police included.
Middlesex man pleads not guilty to reckless endangerment
On June 3, Vermont State Police responded to Lower Sunny Brook Road in Middlesex after a 911 caller reported a domestic disturbance where a firearm was discharged inside a home with multiple people present.
Mitchell McAllister, 34, of Middlesex, was cited to appear in Washington County Superior Court on June 16 to answer to the charge of reckless endangerment.
McAllister pleaded not guilty to the charge in court. The Times Argus reported on this case on June 18.
Troy man found with stolen motorcycle in Waterbury
A 35-year-old man from Troy was cited by Vermont State Police after he was found in downtown Waterbury with what was reported to be a stolen motorcycle from Waitsfield, according to police.
At 6:15 a.m. on Sunday, state police were called to check out a report of a suspicious man sitting outside a business on Park Row in Waterbury, police said. They found Joshua Staples, 35, of Troy, with a motorcycle that he did not have permission to have, according to the report from Trooper Ryan Riegler.
The owner of the bike later reported it stolen and was informed that it had been located in Waterbury, police said.
Staples was issued a citation to appear in Washington County Superior Court Criminal Division on Aug. 7 to answer to the charge of operation without owner’s consent; he also was issued several additional tickets, police said.