Keep Vermont Safe

Escapee, car thief with 159 previous police encounters arrested, jailed

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Jeffrey Leduc, Shawn Dudley, Dennis Hodzic

Also, two Burlington knife assaults involved suspects with extensive priors

By KeepVermontSafe.com

Jeffery Leduc, 38, of Burlington wound up back in Northwest State Correctional Facility on October 5 after stealing a vehicle, police say. 

At around 8 AM, South Burlington Police received a complaint of a stolen black Volkswagen Atlas which was also circulated to Burlington Police.

At around 11 AM, police found the car empty at Fletcher Free Library and determined that the suspect had left just moments before police arrived. Presumably, Ludec had noticed that officers were nearby and left the scene.

Ludec was quickly found in the area of South Winooski Ave. Buell St.. Ludec noticed officers approaching and attempted to run away, but was apprehended after a short foot chase and struggle.

Leduc was found to have three (3) active Return to Mittimus Warrants for his arrest having absconded from the Vermont Department of Corrections. The original charges on these warrants are Eluding a Law Enforcement Officer, Vehicle Operation Without Owner’s Consent, Aggravated Vehicle Operation Without Owner’s Consent, and Retail Theft.

During Ludec’s arrest, police located a Volkswagen key fob along with other items, later identified as belonging to the victim of the stolen vehicle. The victim later met with officers at the Burlington Police Department where the items were returned.

The stolen vehicle incident is being investigated by the South Burlington Police Department. Since Leduc was found to have absconded from custody of the Vermont Department of Corrections, he was transported to the Northwest State Correctional Facility for lodging.

Leduc has had 159 known police contacts, this number may be higher as police contact metrics only began to be recorded in 2011. Since September 2022, Leduc has been linked to at least 11 stolen vehicle incidents.

Below is the lengthy list of Jeffery Leduc’s known criminal history:

  • 28 Failures to Appear at a Court Proceeding
  • 3 Escape Charges
  • 9 Violation of Court Order Charges with 1 Conviction
  • 21 Felony Charges with 10 Convictions
  • 43 Misdemeanor Charges with 24 Convictions
  • 6 Assaultive Crime Charges with 3 Convictions

Assault Involving Knife

On the afternoon of October 3, police responded near the vicinity of Starr Farm Dog Park regarding a fight involving a knife. One of the parties was described as having blood on them.

Police on the scene determined that a male suspect caused significant bodily injuries to the victim, including cuts on the chest and wrist. The victim was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center for further medical treatment. The male suspect was later identified as Shawn Dudley, 37, of Burlington.

Dudley was taken into custody for aggravated assault and was transported to the Burlington Police Department for processing. Additionally, Dudley violated his still active criminal conditions of release, that he cannot possess dangerous or deadly weapons. Dudley is thought to have used a folding knife which police found on his person.

Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704.

Dudley’s known criminal history includes two felony charges with one conviction, and 17 misdemeanor charges with three convictions, including a prior conviction for simple assault.

Another Burlington assault involving knife on the same day

Several hours later, and on the same day as the incident involving Shawn Dudley, police were dispatched to Saint Paul Street for another fight involving a knife.

This time, police say that the suspect, Denis Hodzic, 39, of Essex Junction attempted to stab two people with a knife after he was caught and confronted for stealing items from their vehicle. Hodzic had broken the window of the vehicle, entered the vehicle, and was caught leaving the area with items that belonged to the victim.

Hodzic was taken into custody for aggravated assault, unlawful mischief, unlawful trespass into a motor vehicle, and larceny from a motor vehicle. Hodzic was transported to the BPD for processing. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department. 

Below is the list of Denis Hodzic’s known criminal history:

  • 2 failures to appear
  • 3 violation of court orders
  • 12 felony charges
  • 15 misdemeanor charges
  • 6 assaultive crime charges
  • 4 dangerous/deadly weapon charges
  • 7 probation/parole charges.

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Categories: Keep Vermont Safe

16 replies »

  1. Not to excuse the rotten behavior of a car thief but if he was found in possession of a key fob for the stolen car, then someone left the fob where it could be accessed, and should have been more careful. Going back 150 years, if this miscreant had been linked to the theft of 11 horses, he would have his neck stretched, if not by the legitimate court process then by a group of concerned citizens. Anyone in Vermont who votes for progressives and/or democrats bears some responsibility for this crime wave.

  3. Break into my car and come at with a knife the judge will decide your future.

    • Unfortunately, Richard, in THIS state, the way it is now, it’s YOUR future the judge will be deciding under the circumstances you describe. Did you not note said car thief has already had 159(!) “encounters” with the police? What does the fact that he’s still out there tell you?

      I don’t disagree with what you wrote, but………

    • Richard, in progressive Vermont with our Soros-supported prosecutors, you must be careful that the use of your Taurus Judge does not get you an appearance in front of a county court judge…

  4. Gang attacks former New York City Governor. Just another day in the big city.

  5. Chittenden County voters decided to continue the status quo, re-electing soros funded sarah george as state’s attorney. Your comments and complaints should be directed at this person. Chittenden County States Attorney Office 32 Cherry Street Suite 305
    Burlington, VT 05401
    Phone: (802) 863-2865
    Fax: (802) 863-7440
    Expect nothing.

  7. But wait! Check this out:
    “South Burlington is the safest city in U.S. and Burlington isn’t far behind, in new list”
    https://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/life/2024/10/08/south-burlington-vermont-safest-cities-in-america-wallethub-ranking-new-england/75552543007/

    Well, according to WalletHub, an “American personal finance company” per wiki.
    Not much crime data being used to base their claims on, tho.
    I thought the article was interesting, but I’m guessing most news readers do not go beyond the headlines once the bias confirmation is already achieved.

  8. Let’s see. 159 run ins with the law, Sarah George doesn’t want to prosecute, Burlington Police have been defunded and crime is way up in Burlington. *conceals his 9MM* I’ll take care of myself, thank you.

  9. This new journalistic device is great. Including the totals of all law enforcement encounters a suspect has had; felony charges and convictions; misdemeanor charges and convictions; violations of probation, parole, court orders, and conditions of release; assaultive crime charges and convictions; and failures to appear, paint the clear picture of the failure of our criminal judicial system with raw numerical facts. Every news report of serial arrestees/offenders should include this metric from now on. And it begs the question: who is ultimately responsible for letting these criminals continue to victimize our communities?

    The next step in my research to get to the bottom of this injustice and insanity is to speak to the department of probation and parole to find out why and how these frequent flyers continue to be allowed on our streets. Who is letting them so blatantly fall through the cracks?

    Justice delayed is justice denied: for the criminal, for his/her victims, and for our communities. The longer they are allowed on the streets, the greater the chance that their crimes will only increase in violence and severity. Whoever is allowing this is guilty of gross negligence.

  10. Response to Robin and Rich. My judge will speak first as i have a problem with getting cut up. I will still be alive to deal with Soros whore judges.