CASE#: 21SJ002424
OFFICER: Gerrish
AGENCY: St. Johnsbury Police Department
CONTACT#: 802-748-2314
DATE/TIME: July 22, 2021 @ 1039
LOCATION: Breezy Hill Road
VIOLATION: Criminal DLS due to DUI, License Required
ACCUSED: Benjamin Cole (34)
RESIDENCE: Lunenberg, VT
VIOLATION: Identity Theft, False Reports to Law Enforcement
ACCUSED: Craig Watkins (39)
RESIDENCE:Homeless
SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:
On the above date and time, a St. Johnsbury Police Department patrol officer observed a motor vehicle violation on Memorial Drive. The vehicle was stopped on Breezy Hill Road. The operator, Benjamin Cole, was found to be driving on a license that was criminally suspended due to DUI. Cole was arrested. A homeless passenger in the vehicle, Craig Watkins, attempted to impersonate a family member in order to hide the fact that he was the subject of a warrant out of the State of Georgia. Further investigation revealed the warrant was non-extraditable. Watkins was arrested for Identity Theft and False Reports to Law Enforcement. Both were brought back to the police department and eventually released on citation. Cole was cited into Caledonia Superior Court on October 18, 2021 at 0830, Watkins was cited for September 27, 2021 at 0830 hours. The vehicle was towed away.
