Reader wants to know what ‘catch and release’ suspects look like
by Guy Page
by Guy Page
In the absence of the Vermont criminal justice system’s ability or willingness to jail many violent suspects, especially in the downtown Burlington area, Queen City residents and visitors are asking if they can at least be warned about what possible repeat offenders look like.
At the request of the Vermont Daily Chronicle, the Burlington Police Department has provided the mugshot photo of the man charged with taking off his shirt, handing it to a female onlooker, and then punching an 82-year-old man in the head, knocking him unconscious, May 18 in broad daylight in downtown Burlington.
Shawn McConnell, 41, a transient was cited and released the same day as the incident. 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 sidewalk. The victim was soon hospitalized and McConnell arrested a few blocks away.
The same weekend, Michael Reynolds – a man known to VDC readers as a transient with 1700 police encounters since 2012 – was arrested for attacking city rescue workers making a ‘welfare check,’ VDC reported.
The court decision to almost immediately release McConnell – a veteran of 50 police engagements including another sidewalk attack on a male passerby this February – provoked an email from a VDC reader, which was then passed to BPD public affairs officer Sarah Timm.
“How are folks supposed to avoid people if they don’t know what they look like.. Seems like a public safety issue,” reader David G. said. “I don’t know how it would happen but it seems like unconfined violent offenders should have their photos and information posted all over the place in the public interest. Bulletin boards, telephone poles, any and everywhere…This would help people avoid being confronted, assaulted, aid in reporting an incident to 911/ law enforcement AND discourage perps from being in public AND discourage others from committing crimes if they knew their face/ info would be made public.”
The reader asked, “Why isn’t BPD publishing mug shots, and would you consider doing so given the ramped up concern for public safety re Reynolds, Walls [repeat offender Nicholas Walls, arrested Tuesday after violently resisting arrest], and McConnell?”
VDC generally publishes mug shots as provided. However, BPD does not routinely provide them with their press statements. We inquired and received this response from Timm: “When local media partners request booking photos, I am able to provide those when available for the incident in which the press release covered. As such, I have attached Shawn McConnell’s booking photo for you from the most recent incident covered in our press release. (There are no booking photos for Reynolds and Walls’ most recent incidents).”
Part of the problem is Vermont bail laws that don’t allow suspects to be held for violent misdemeanors. “We need to explore other options for people like this,” Police Chief Jon Murad told the City Council this week. “We need to understand there are some individuals whose constant, repetitive, dangerous behavior lands them in a place where jail is the safest place for them and for us as a community.”
Asked by VDC at his press conference yesterday, Gov. Scott said such incidents “keep me awake at night” and referred his administration’s response to Public Safety Commissioner Jen Morrison, who said that the bail reform in S.58 is a step towards resolving Vermont’s ‘catch and release’ problem.
Categories: Crime
Aim Center Mass.
Gotta love the Second Amendment…
I don’t understand this issue at all. Why is assault a misdemeanor? Why can’t they go to jail? What’s wrong with Vermont laws? Can VDC do a special report on this issue? Or maybe I’ll just email the police chief….
yep, one day they will mess with the wrong random victim…
Great idea. Unfortunately, that’s not always a possibility and you know it. Some/many do not carry guns. Some attacks are made from behind. Most are unexpected until it’s too late. If it were easy as it sounds there would definitely be a lot less repeat offenders!
Also, on another note, I’d like to know why these offenses, especially repeated, have not been FELONIES? The so-called “violent misdemeanor” charges are complete BS! That old man getting hit to unconsciousness is an act of INTENT to harm/ki11 a vulnerable person! SHOULD BE AN AUTOMATIC FELONY, CHARGE, NO LESS! AND lock those sub-humans up until their hearing…then lock them back up just in the hopes they get a beat down themselves!! Why are they allowed back out in public until a hearing?? Isn’t THAT considered a danger to the public???
@Veryver
Emailing the Chief of police is not going to do any good. They are frustrated as well. They arrest the perps and judges set them free. They don’t make the laws.
Aim small miss small.
Given the circumstances, it would make sense to have images of the three most dangerous individuals in Burlington at this time, these two thugs and Chittenden County (non-)Prosecutor Sarah George. I wonder what she would have to say to the family members of the helpless victims of these repeat, repeat, repeat offenders? There will be more victims.
who allowed this repeat dangerous offender out without needing to post a substantial bond? Can that judge be voted out ?
What’s the judge’s name?
@champlainer
JUDGE ELIZABETH NOVOTNY released Shawn McConnell on conditions he avoid the downtown Burlington area, not engage in violent behavior and go to his scheduled court arraignment.
In court Monday morning, McConnell pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor assault charge and was released by JUDGE NAVAH SPERO on conditions including that he not engage in violent behavior.
JUDGE KEVIN GRIFFEN released Michael Reynolds on his latest charge.
One of the key purposes of a judiciary is to curtail vigilantism. By implied consent, Sara George has given the green light for rural Vermonters to show just how well they can S.S.S.
Why only rural Vermonters? Y’all have wayyy more urban support than you realize.
there is only one real judge and now the only solution is up to you////
Yeah well the real judge doesn’t seem to be doing jack either. So, you’re right about the only solution being up to us!
When I was attending law school in the mid sixties—one block away from the Woodlawn district—we were very careful about walking in public, especially at night. Now walking in Burlington, even in broad daylight, seems just as dangerous!
Now I have to trim my beard. Don’t want to get mistaken for the guy.
just wait till end of summer, these two will seem like cupcakes!
They need to make pictures available every time. It might help avoid unnecessary questions, and certainly aids public safety.
Me thinks it’s time to reintroduce bounties.
I’m fine with innocent until proven guilty, however violent offenses and victim offenses should be scheduled for the highest priority and scheduled for court the next day, with no shows being put behind bars. We can let the dim taillight tickets and guns without serial number citations wait longer.
Some people (who commit victim offenses) just can’t live with the rest of us. They can still be productive with a babysitter, and should be forced to pay restitution as well as pay for room and board/services in the jail. The public shouldn’t pay 1 cent for the prison system. The public should be able to hire these folks to do tasks in prison starting at minimum wage 1cent per day (sold to the highest bidder). After they “do their time”, they should remain there until all debts have been completely paid off.
For fake made up laws that the government said you broke which have no victim, there can be a separate system. The politicians that made these types of laws can pay an extra tax out of their pay to fund all of those, and they should be in a separate type of detention center, or just released / house arrest / ticketed / ridiculed by a judge / etc..
Great for those checking the Vermont Daily Chronicle but the tourist coming to town won’t have a clue, right up until their face is smashed or they are killed.
would the the judge release them if they themselves were the victims?
Typically there is no hesitation to release mugshots if the perpetrators are white, so thanks to the VDC for pushing it. Otherwise, when no mug shots are publicized, the assumption is that the media is hesitant because they are non-white and it messes with their “narrative”. Obviously, when perpetrators of random and unpredictable violent behavior are allowed to run free, there is good reason to at least let the public know who to avoid.