By Keep Vermont Safe,
On January 30, Siddiq Nixon, 25, of Philadelphia, was arraigned in Chittenden County Court on multiple drug-related charges including the sale of meth, cocaine, and fentanyl.
Nixon’s charges stem from a 5 month investigation by the Burlington Police Department’s Drug Unit. He was released by the court with conditions, including a prohibition on possessing firearms and restrictions on entering Vermont except for court appearances.
Police arrested Nixon on January 29 following a drug bust on Center Street in Burlington. A subsequent search warrant at a Winooski residence tied to Nixon uncovered illegal drugs and evidence of distribution. Nixon, who has prior firearm convictions in Pennsylvania, was initially held on $250,000 bail.
Anyone with further information about Nixon is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704.
Burlington Police handle 180 incidents over weekend
On the weekend from Friday, January 24, to Monday, January 27, Burlington Police responded to a staggering 180 incidents, including arrests, crashes, trespassing, and one fatality.
Untimely Death: Police found Susan Griffin, 67, deceased behind homes near North Avenue. Evidence suggests she fell from a balcony. The investigation is ongoing.
Robbery & Arrests: Two men allegedly stole a woman’s phone and injured her near Grant Street. Robert Robidoux, 41, of Colchester, was arrested on an active warrant, and William Dunn Jr., 41, of Burlington, was cited. A third man, Sujit Gurung, 37, was arrested for unlawful trespass.
DUI Crash: Angel Santillan Santillan, 22, crashed head-on into a box truck at high speed on North Avenue. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.
Hit-and-Run: A 14-year-old from Winooski was cited after fleeing a crash at Main Street and South Willard Street.
Multiple Arrests on Warrants: Officers arrested Arthur Barnier, 46, of Burlington, and Nicole Laplante, 35, of Essex Town, on active warrants.
Police also responded to numerous overdoses, domestic disturbances, and trespassing reports. Several incidents remain under investigation.
New York Man sentenced to 54 months for drug conspiracy
Jamontay Brister, 29, of Queens, NY, was sentenced to 54 months in federal prison for conspiring to distribute fentanyl, cocaine, and for possessing a firearm as a convicted felon.
Brister was arrested in July 2024 after Burlington Police and DEA Task Force officers made multiple controlled drug purchases from him.
A search of Brister’s Burlington apartment uncovered over 950 grams of cocaine, 150 grams of fentanyl, $10,000 in cash, and a handgun.
Brister, who has a prior robbery conviction in New York, has been detained without bail.
The case was investigated by the Burlington Police Narcotics Unit and the DEA Task Force as part of Project Safe Neighborhoods.
Traffic Stop in South Royalton Leads to Drug Arrests
On January 24, Vermont State Police stopped a vehicle on South Windsor Street in South Royalton for a traffic violation, leading to the arrest of two occupants on drug-related charges.
Harmonie Cosgrove, 28, was found to be trafficking fentanyl, while passenger Kenvron Gardner, 44 was found with methamphetamine. Gardner also had an active arrest warrant and was violating court-ordered conditions of release.
Gardner was lodged at Southern State Correctional Facility on $500 bail and will appear in Windsor County Superior Court. Cosgrove was released on a citation for an April 1 court date.
St. Albans Woman Arrested on Multiple Warrants
On January 26, Vermont State Police recovered a stolen vehicle at a residence in Richford and arrested Olivia Pelletier, 27, of St. Albans, who was found at the scene.
Pelletier had multiple active warrants in three counties for charges including burglary, retail theft, larceny, and unlawful mischief. She was transported to Chittenden County Correctional Center and held on $11,700 bail.