West Rutland, Rutland County, VT – A late-night traffic stop in West Rutland led to a DUI arrest after deputies say a driver showed signs of impairment and refused sobriety testing.
According to the Rutland County Sheriff’s Office, the incident occurred Wednesday night at approximately 11:18 p.m. near Pleasant Street and Crescent Street. Deputies observed a vehicle failing to maintain its lane on Marble Street, prompting a traffic stop.
Authorities identified the driver as Claire C. Thompson, 44, of Proctor, Vermont. Deputies reported observing several indicators of impairment while speaking with Thompson. She was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tests but allegedly refused, according to the sheriff’s office.
Thompson was taken into custody and transported to the Rutland Police Department for processing. During processing, deputies say Thompson also refused to provide a breath sample.
She was cited on a charge of operating a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, a violation of Title 23 VSA 1201, and later released to a sober adult. Thompson is expected to appear in Rutland Superior Court – Criminal Division at a later date to answer to the charge.
Officials also confirmed the vehicle Thompson was operating was towed from the scene.
The arresting officer was identified as Corporal Gregory Ricketts. The incident remains an active court matter, and all charges are allegations pending judicial proceedings.
Anyone with additional information related to impaired driving concerns in Rutland County is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
This article was produced by a journalist and may include AI-assisted input. All content is reviewed for accuracy and fairness.
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