Suspect in another weekend assault has 1700 police encounters

by Timothy Page

On Saturday, May 18, a shocking incident unfolded, leaving an elderly man wounded. Around 2:15 PM, BPD received calls that a man had been seen attacked by another on South Winooski Avenue, near the intersection with College Street. Police say the perpetrator, a man in his prime, approached the unsuspecting octogenarian (82) and unleashed a single, devastating punch. The force of the blow robbed the victim of consciousness, causing him to crumple to the unforgiving sidewalk.

The attack seemed random, a senseless act of violence that left the elderly gentleman with facial injuries and significant bleeding. As he lay there, vulnerable and hurt, the emergency services sprang into action. The Burlington Fire Department swiftly transported the injured man to the University of Vermont Medical Center, where he received the urgent care he desperately needed.

Amidst the chaos, the police managed to locate the assailant, a man named Shawn McConnell, age 41, officially a transient, at the entrance to the Marketplace parking garage on Bank Street. They wasted no time in taking him into custody for his suspected role in the brutal assault. However, the investigation revealed a peculiar twist – city cameras captured Mr. McConnell removing the shirt he wore during the attack and handing it over to a female acquaintance.

Police say the court ordered Mr. McConnell’s release just hours after the alleged crime. Instead of being held until his arraignment on Monday, he was issued a citation to appear in court on that day. The court also imposed conditions of release, including a mandate to steer clear of the city’s “Inner Fire District,” which encompasses much of the downtown core.

Mr. McConnell’s history casts a long shadow, with a criminal record in New Hampshire and a concerning pattern of behavior since his arrival in Chittenden County in January 2023. In just a few short months, he has had more than fifty local police engagements, a staggering number that underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement and the community. No connection between the perpetrator and his victim has been released as of yet.

Another incident occurred not even two hours later, at 4PM, when Burlington Fire called their colleagues in the Police to request urgent aid in the wake of a routine medical check gone suddenly pear-shaped.

The FD personnel responded to a reported incident outside a residence on North Willard Street, near the intersection with Henry Street. There, they encountered Michael Reynolds, a 46-year-old man whose behavior raised immediate concerns.

Reynolds appeared to be under the influence of substances, rendering him uncooperative and aggressive towards the Fire personnel. As the situation escalated, the firefighters found themselves in a precarious position, prompting them to request immediate police assistance with an expedited response.

Police say the encounter took a disturbing turn as Reynolds physically menaced the firefighters, and assaulted a fire captain with bodily fluids. Undeterred by the presence of emergency responders, Reynolds fled the scene, leaving the firefighters to witness him attempting to break into random houses on Henry Street.

Responding swiftly to the call for backup, police officers found Reynolds on Pearl Street and took him into custody. However, the ordeal was far from over, as Reynolds proceeded to assault a police sergeant with bodily fluids as well, necessitating an urgent trip to the emergency room for the injured officer.

In the aftermath of this chaotic incident, the court ordered that Reynolds be lodged at the Northwest State Correctional Facility. At his upcoming arraignment, police expect him to face charges of two counts of Assault of Protected Professional and one count of Aggravated Disorderly Conduct.

Reynolds’ history with law enforcement is a cause for grave concern. Since 2012, Reynolds has had a staggering 1,700 police encounters.

A review of his criminal history reveals a pattern of violence and disregard for the law, with six felony convictions, 42 misdemeanor convictions, and 13 assaultive crimes, including assault on an officer and the use of dangerous or deadly weapons. Additionally, he has one escape charge and ten failures to appear, further underscoring his disregard for the judicial system.