Burlington Police release new information in spate downtown crimes
Police have arrested several suspects in a series of crimes in the downtown area, including two active Air Guard members in relation to the assault and robbery of a UVM student.
Police have arrested several suspects in a series of crimes in the downtown area, including two active Air Guard members in relation to the assault and robbery of a UVM student.
Police have arrested several suspects in a series of crimes in the downtown area, including two active Air Guard members in relation to the assault and robbery of a UVM student.
The Burlington Police Department released a slew of new information regarding a series of crimes that recently took place in the City Center Area, including three robberies and an attempted murder incident.
UVM student assault and robbery
Officials said they now have more information regarding a UVM student who was robbed at gunpoint in the early morning hours of Sept. 17.
Police said that three men wearing masks, including some using t-shirts as masks, approached the victim, with one of them using a firearm to threaten him.
Officials said the men then forced the victim to disrobe and stole his clothing and personal property before fleeing.
Further investigation helped police to identify the suspects involved and arrest them on charges of assault and robbery.
Two of the suspects, 22-year-old Zafer Suliman and 23-year-old Latavious Elam, both of Williston, are active Air Force members. Police determined that Elam was the suspect who threatened the victim with a firearm during the incident. He is being held without bail.
The other two suspects, including 24-year-old Michael Chea of Winooski, have been released following their arraignments on Thursday.
Attempted murder in Battery Park
On Sept. 19, police said a 35-year-old woman came to the lobby of Burlington Police headquarters and stated she had been stabbed in the chest. She was taken to the hospital for surgery and survived. The woman's 59-year-old mother also suffered hand lacerations.
The mother initially identified a suspect, 44-year-old Tyrone Bryant, who has been involved in more than 170 encounters with police, the department said. Bryant had a previous relationship with the victim but was currently prohibited from having contact with her.
However, the victim refused to name a suspect and the mother withdrew her statement following conflicting witness statements.
A further investigation conducted by the department's Domestic Violence Prevention Officer was able to confirm that Bryant was the alleged perpetrator. He was arrested on Sept. 23 and is being held without bail on charges of attempted second-degree murder.
NBC5 did not initially report on this case as Burlington Police were unable to confirm any details at the time of the incident as to whether or not the stabbing had occurred.
Downtown robberies on Sept. 28
Police have identified the woman who robbed a man at an ATM on St. Paul Street and arrested a suspect in the assault and robbery of a man on Cherry Street on Wednesday.
Officials said 39-year-old Ashley Richards is wanted on anticipated charges of assault and robbery after she is alleged to have punched a 69-year-old man in a motorized wheelchair in the face while he was withdrawing money from an ATM on Wednesday morning.
Police were able to identify Richards using surveillance footage from the scene.
Burlington Police also arrested 20-year-old Jashier A. Gillespie of Philadelphia on Thursday in relation to the assault of a man in the parking lot of the Walgreens on Cherry Street.
Gillespie attempted to flee police on Thursday but was ultimately taken into custody. Police said he has been charged with assault and robbery as well as aggravated assault and resisting arrest. He is being held without bail and has an extensive criminal background in Pennsylvania, police say.
Officials say the man who was injured had multiple skull fractures, broken ribs and ocular injuries that may result in him losing an eye.
He is currently in stable condition at the University of Vermont Medical Center.
“This was a particularly brutal crime,” said acting Chief of Police Jon Murad in a press release. “And we believe it to be associated with narcotics trafficking.