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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.

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.

US. AT 5 O-CLOCK. I'M BRIAN COLLERAN. AND I'M ALICE KANG. WE HAVE NEW.... LATE- BREAKING DETAILS TONIGHT... FROM THE BURLINGTON POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT'S ABOUT THE áTHREEá SEPARATE ASSAULTS. TWO ROBBERIES AND ONE ATTEMPTED MURDER. THAT ALL TOOK PLACE... AROUND THE SAME AREA OF THE CITY. POLICE TELL US...THREE ARRESTS WERE MADE...IN CONNECTION WITH AN ARMED ROBBERY.... THAT HAPPENED about TWO WEEKS AGO...ON KING STREET. MICHAEL CHEA from WINOOSKI....ZAFER Suliman from WILLISTON...AND LATAVIOUS ELAM from WILLISTON...ARE and Suliman ....ARE ACTIVE- DUTY.. AIR FORCE MEMBERS but not with our national guard. BOTH THE "VERMONT NATIONAL GUARD"...AND "AIR NATIONAL GUARD"...HELPED WITH THE INVESTIGATION. POLICE ALSO IDENTIFIED THE SUSPECT... IN AN ATTEMPTED MURDER. IN BATTERY PARK. MONDAY NIGHT... A WOMAN SHOWED UP IN THE LOBBY OF THE POLICE HEADQUARTERS... SAYING SHE WAS STABBED IN THE CHEST. SHE WAS BROUGHT TO THE HOSPITAL. HAD SURGERY AND SURVIVED. STATEMENTS FROM HER MOTHER LED POLICE TO 44 YEAR OLD TYRONE BRIANT (BRY-ant). WHO IS KNOWN TO B-P-D FOR MORE THAN áá170 INCIDENTS. HE WAS IN A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE VICTIM. THE CASE WAS HANDED OVER TO THE "DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PREVENTION OFFICER". FINALLY...TWO SUSPECTS... WERE IDENTIFIED...IN CASES OF ASSAULT AND ROBBERY...IN DOWNTOWN BURLINGTON. POLICE SAY...THEY ARRESTED 20 YEAR OLD JASHIER GILLESPIE ...OF PHILADELPHIA.... FOR BEATING A MAN IN THE WALGREENS PARKING LOT...ON CHERRY STREET...ON áWEDNESDAY NIGHTá. THE VICTIM ENDED UP IN THE HOSPITAL...WITH SKULL FRACTURES... BROKEN RIBS...AND A BAD INJURY TO HIS EYE. HE'S NOW IN STABLE CONDITION. GILLESPE IS BEING HELD WITHOUT BAIL. THAT SAME NIGHT...POLICE SAY...ASHLEY RICHARDS ATTACKED A MAN IN A WHEELCHAIR... WHEN HE WAS TAKING OUT MONEY..FROM AN A-T-M...ON SAINT PAUL STREET. OFFICERS ARE STILL LOOKING FOR RICHARDS
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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.

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 robberyOfficials 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 ParkOn 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. 28Police 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.

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

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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.