By Kolby LaMarche

Burlington police are investigating a pair of violent incidents in the city in the past week, including an alleged sexual assault in the downtown area last week that has heightened worries about safety in public spaces, and a stabbing early this morning at a popular skatepark.

The sexual assault case involves 37-year-old Lacombus Smith of Burlington who recently pleaded not guilty to the charges of aggravated sexual assault and second-degree unlawful restraint. 

According to court records and police accounts, the incident occurred shortly after 4 a.m. on July 9 near a parking garage off College Street, close to City Hall Park.

Investigators say a woman reported being followed by a man after she told him to leave her alone in the City Hall Park area. The man allegedly pursued her to the parking garage, where he pushed her to the ground, restrained her, and sexually assaulted her. Officers responded quickly to the 911 call and located a man matching the victim’s description within minutes. The woman sustained injuries and was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center for a sexual assault forensic exam.

Smith was arraigned on Friday and ordered held without bail. His next court appearance is scheduled for July 31 for a Weight of the Evidence Hearing. Burlington Interim Police Chief Shawn Burke noted Monday that investigators do not believe there were witnesses to the assault and encouraged the public to report any suspicious activity.

This incident comes as residents and officials continue to grapple with perceptions of safety in Burlington’s downtown core, like Church Street, a vibrant hub for residents, tourists, and businesses that has seen increased foot traffic during summer months. 

While overall violent crime statistics for the city showed a decline in 2025 compared to previous years—with fewer than 260 violent crimes reported, the lowest since 2021—high-profile, violent incidents like this one are still happening.

Early today, another violent episode unfolded at the Andy A-Dog Williams Skatepark at 1 Lake Street. Burlington Police officers responded around 12:12 a.m. after receiving a 911 call from Jefferson Medina, who reported being beaten and needing an ambulance due to heavy bleeding.

Emergency medical care was provided on scene, and Medina was transported to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Officers quickly encountered a witness and then the suspect, identified as 58-year-old Christopher Kelly of Burlington.

An on-scene investigation revealed that Kelly allegedly sliced a hole in Medina’s tent, entered it, struck him in the head with a hiking pole, and attempted to stab him. Medina defended himself, sustaining stab wounds to his right forearm and right palm, along with a significant laceration to his right thumb.

Kelly was lodged on charges of aggravated assault and is scheduled for arraignment later Monday. The investigation remains ongoing, and police are asking anyone with additional information to contact Officer Philbrick. No photo of Kelly is currently available.

Compounding concerns about crime are the recent shootings in the city. Just over a week earlier, on July 5, officers on foot patrol in the Church Street Marketplace heard a gunshot near Church and Main streets around 12:19 a.m. They quickly apprehended 21-year-old Alex Ewanchyna of Burlington, who was running north on Church Street with a firearm. Ewanchyna allegedly fired a single shot at a group of individuals. He faces charges of aggravated assault and reckless endangerment and is being held without bail.

About 30 minutes later that same night, a man arrived at the University of Vermont Medical Center with a gunshot wound to his foot. He reported being shot while walking on Center Street. Police recovered a firearm and ballistic evidence from the vehicle that transported him, suggesting the shooting may have occurred inside the vehicle. Investigators are examining possible connections between the two July 5 incidents.

These downtown gunfire events followed other recent reports of shots fired, including one in the Old North End on Johnson Street. In that case, police responded to a dispute involving a resident and a maintenance worker that escalated when the resident allegedly fired warning shots. No injuries were reported there, but the string of incidents has fueled broader discussions about public safety.

Burlington police data indicates that while responses to incidents have increased, violent crime overall has trended downward in recent years. Officials credit proactive policing and social service partnerships.