Ezra Dillon after his arrest. Cover photo- Suspect seen fleeing the store with stolen items with security guard following.

 

By Mike Donoghue, Vermont News First

A Milton man, who reportedly pulled a knife on a supermarket security guard in downtown Burlington and then spit on two city police officers, is now facing a felony robbery charge in federal court.

Ezra W. Dillon, 34, of Eagle Mountain Harbor Road was ordered jailed as a risk to flee and a danger to the community.

 

Dillon quickly learned he was in the big leagues in U.S. District Court when a federal judge called him out for being disrespectful during his hearing.

 

Federal Magistrate Judge Kevin Doyle began to question Dillon at his initial hearing and the defendant responded, “This is (expletive).”

 

“You are in federal court, and a certain standard is expected,” Doyle explained to Dillon, who was admonished to watch his language.

 

Assistant Federal Defender Barclay Johnson said there may be some mental health issues for the court to consider.

 

Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Charles W. Kirkham said Dillon was convicted for another assault and robbery with a weapon in Chittenden County in February and received probation.  but by August Dillon was violating the terms of the conditions imposed on him, Kirkham said.

 

He noted Dillon also has numerous past criminal charges for various violent offenses, including a 2017 conviction for simple assault. Dillon also was charged in 2024 with resisting arrest and giving false information to law enforcement, Kirkham said.

 

“The nature and seriousness of the danger posed by the defendant to the community is that he will engage in additional robberies and additional violent confrontations with those that attempt to stop his criminal acts,” Kirkham wrote.

 

Johnson did not contest the detention request for his client.

 

Doyle told Dillon he was entitled to a probable cause hearing in the case on Oct. 28 unless a federal grand jury indicts him.

 

The federal court hearing came one day after Dillon was arraigned in Vermont Superior Court on four criminal charges for the robbery case and released by Judge Tim Doherty Jr. back into the community.

 

Before Dillon could be freed, a federal detainer was filed to have him held on the robbery complaint filed in U.S. District Court.

 

A robbery charge can be filed in federal court when the theft impacts interstate or foreign commerce due to the stolen items having crossed state lines. The FBI filed the criminal complaint based on the Burlington Police investigation.

 

During his state court hearing, Dillon denied a felony charge of aggravated assault with a knife on Jesse Truax, the assistant manager for safety and security at City Market on South Winooski Avenue on Oct. 10.

 

Dillon also pleaded not guilty to assault on two protected professionals, Burlington Officers Punntani Wongpaiboon and Stephen Williamson by spitting on them. The fourth charge Dillon denied was resisting arrest.

 

Burlington Officer Mason Shusda said Truax caught Dillon stealing merchandise and the suspect pulled a knife and threatened to stab him before leaving City Market about 8:30 Friday night. Truax reported Dillon had walked through multiple aisles and placed several items in a personal bag to hide them, Shusda said in a court affidavit.

 

Truax reported when he went to confront Dillon, the suspect said. “Get the (expletive) out of my face or I’ll cut you,” court records note.

 

Truax said the black folding knife was “sizeable” and was pulled from Dillon’s right pocket, police noted. Truax confirmed he was in fear for his life.

 

“Oh absolutely, you could see that he was serious,” the 10-year veteran of security told police.

 

The theft was captured on store cameras and Shusda was able to provide a full description of the robber, police said.

 

Sgt. Chase Vivori spotted the suspect across the street near Simon’s convenience store on South Winooski Avenue. Dillon denied he was involved in the robbery and was uncooperative when given lawful orders, Vivori said.

 

Vivori spotted a knife and saw the suspect reaching for it, police said. Vivori, who said he was in fear of danger, pulled out his department-issued firearm and gave more commands, but Dillon ignored them too, police reported.

 

Dillon was yelling and refusing commands and eventually threw one of the bags he was carrying at Vivori, police said. The bag bounced off Vivori and Dillon began to flee north on foot toward Bank Street, police said.

 

Other responding city officers were able to apprehend a combative Dillon by using a combination of physical force, a Taser and pepper spray, police said.

 

Dillon continued to fight even while in handcuffs and two knives were seized, police said.

 

Williamson said he was spit in the face as he tried to lead Dillon to an ambulance, police said. He continued to spit and landed a large gob on Officer Wongpaiboon’s right sleeve, which was captured by a camera and included in the court file.

 

A spit hood was placed on Dillon to protect police, fire and rescue personnel that were attempting to assist him, police said. It remained on at the UVM Medical Center to protect its staff, police said.

 

Police reported Dillon has two felony arrests and one felony conviction, while he has five misdemeanor charges with two convictions. They said two convictions involve assaults, and he has one failure to appear and one violation of a court order.