BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – A random attack in Burlington that left an elderly man knocked unconscious is renewing safety concerns downtown, and calls for another look at the law on holding those accused of violent crimes behind bars.
The attack happened Saturday afternoon near the Roxy Cinema. And police say it’s not the first time the man accused is in trouble for a random attack.
Shawn McConnell, 41, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge on Monday after police say he punched an 82-year-old man in a seemingly random attack.
The victim suffered facial injuries and significant bleeding after the punch and after falling to the ground. He has since been released from the hospital.
McConnell was released on conditions by Vt. Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Novotny to stay out of the downtown after he was arrested Sunday, a decision that drew ire from the city’s police chief.
“It’s tremendously frustrating,” Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad said. “It’s frustrating for the officers. It’s frustrating for people who want safety in this town, who understand that when someone victimizes another person in a violent way, who harms another person in this way, jail is the appropriate place for that person, at least until arraignment.”
Vermont statute to hold offenders in prison without bail only applies to cases where life sentences are an option and felony crimes of violence. It’s one part of the law where Murad thinks more discussion is warranted.
“For something like this that is unusual, that is rare in our community and that is very dangerous and violent, we need to explore other options,” the chief said.
A different judge, Vt. Superior Court Judge Navah Spero, released McConnell on new conditions Monday to not engage in violent behavior.
It’s not McConnell’s first arrest for assault. Earlier this year, police say he punched a man who intervened during an argument on Church Street. Police say a plea deal is in the works in that case that would have McConnell serve two to three days in jail.
Ben Traverse, D-Burlington City Council President, says some people and businesses don’t feel safe in the community.
“There’s a lot of folks, understandably, in our community that don’t feel safe. A lot of folks that work downtown that don’t feel safe, and we need to live up to some promises to them to offer them and give them a safe community.”
I spoke with a bystander who witnessed the incident, called 911 and helped the victim immediately afterward. She said it was extremely traumatic and completely random, that McConnell walked up quickly and punched the victim and then immediately walked away. She said she was grateful she could hold the victim’s hand until help arrived.