by Guy Page
Michael Reynolds, a Burlington-area transient, has now racked up 1,850 police encounters, Burlington police say. Chief Jon Murad says it’s time to impose the ‘habitual offender’ status on the man who on December 27 refused to leave the UVM Medical Center and assaulted guards and patients when asked to do so.
“He has harmed huge numbers of people; he routinely endangers himself and others; and Burlington’s officers deal with him more than any other person. He has exhausted outlets of charity, treatment, or relief, and burned bridges with entities that seek to help the disadvantaged,” Murad said in a police statement.
A lightly edited version of the police statement appears below.
On December 27, at about 5:56 pm, officers with the BPD were dispatched to the University of Vermont Medical Center for a report that Reynolds was refusing to leave the hospital premises and trying to assault hospital security guards and other patients at the hospital grounds. Callers reported and dispatch confirmed that Reynolds has an active notice of trespass from the hospital.
When officers arrived on scene, Reynolds was taken into custody for unlawful trespass. While officers searched Reynolds, dispatch advised that an additional report was just received regarding a burglary on Colchester Avenue. Further investigation revealed, just prior to this incident, Reynolds burglarized a residence on Colchester Avenue. The victim came out of his shower to find Reynolds hiding in a closet. When confronted he left. In addition to unlawful trespass, Reynolds was taken into custody for burglary. He was lodged at Northwest State Correctional Facility for lack of $1,000 bail.
Today, December 30, Reynolds appeared for court and was released on conditions. He has nearly 40 violations of court orders or conditions on file, and 10 failures to appear.
“Mr. Reynolds has half a dozen felony convictions and more than three dozen misdemeanor convictions,” said Chief of Police Jon Murad. “He has more police encounters than anyone else in our records management system—more than 1,850 entries. More than 170 trespass notices have been filed against him by business proprietors, property owners, and social service providers. He has harmed huge numbers of people; he routinely endangers himself and others; and Burlington’s officers deal with him more than any other person. He has exhausted outlets of charity, treatment, or relief, and burned bridges with entities that seek to help the disadvantaged. We have an answer for this kind of violent, incorrigible, antisocial behavior: Vermont’s ‘habitual criminal’ statute. Our legislators enacted it for a reason. If Mr. Reynolds is convicted of this most recent felony, 13 V.S.A. 11 should be strongly considered.”
NARRATIVE:
On December 9, 2024, at approximately 7:29 am, officers with the Burlington Police Department responded to South Union Street for a trespass. Officers trespassed Michael Reynolds, 47, of Burlington for one year from the property.
At approximately 3:50 pm, officers with the BPD responded to South Union Street for a disturbance. Officers issued Reynolds a citation for disorderly conduct and unlawful trespass. Reynolds was trespassed from the same property earlier in the day.
On December 10, 2024, at approximately 9:50 pm, officers with the BPD responded to the University of Vermont Medical Center (UVMMC) on Colchester Avenue for reports that Reynolds was refusing to leave after being told he was trespassed. Officers arrived and informed Reynolds he was trespassed and needed to leave. Reynolds left and then later returned to UVMMC. Reynolds was taken into custody and cited for unlawful trespass.
On December 11, 2024, at approximately 11:45 pm, officers with the BPD were dispatched to UVMMC for a report that Reynolds was refusing to leave. When officers arrived on scene, Reynolds was yelling and refusing to leave after he was trespassed from the security. Reynolds was taken into custody and transported to the BPD. Reynolds was then released on a citation without fingerprints and photograph due to his escalated behaviors.
On December 12, 2024, at approximately 7:24 am, officers with the BPD responded to UVMMC for a report of a disturbance. When officers arrived, Reynolds was outside of UVMMC. Officers provided Reynolds a courtesy ride to North Winooski Avenue.
At approximately 1:12 pm, officers with the BPD responded to a disturbance on Pearl Street. Officers issued Reynolds a citation for disorderly conduct and unlawful trespass. Reynolds has been previously trespassed from this property.
On December 13, 2024, at approximately 5:52 pm, officers with the BPD responded to Pearl Street for a report that Reynolds was actively trespassing. Upon arrival, officers took Reynolds into custody for unlawful trespass and transported him to the BPD. Reynolds was cited to appear in court on February 4, 2025 and released.
On December 16, 2024, at approximately 6:33 am, officers with the BPD responded to South Union Street for a report of Reynolds violating a previously issued trespass. Upon arrival, officers responded and issued a citation to appear in court on December 19, 2024.
On December 17, 2024, at approximately 8:08 pm, an officer with BPD was conducting a directed patrol of the Marketplace Garage, when the officer observed Reynolds inside the stairwell. Reynolds has active court conditions to not be in the parking garage. Reynolds was issued a citation on scene and was escorted from the property.
Later that night, on December 18, 2024, at approximately 12:29 am, officers with the BPD responded to the University of Vermont Medical Center. Investigation revealed Reynolds was discharged and did not leave when asked to – Reynolds has an active notice of trespass from the location. When officers arrived, they asked Reynolds to leave. Reynolds did not comply and was taken into custody for unlawful trespass.
On December 20, 2024, at approximately at 1:06 am, officers with the BPD responded for a report of Reynolds violating a previously issued trespass. When officers arrived, Reynolds was observed standing inside of the business. Reynolds was taken into custody and lodged.
On December 23, 2024, the BPD received reports regarding Reynolds trespassing on South Winooski Avenue. Due to staffing shortage, officers responded to the scene a short time later. Officers located Reynolds and cited him for unlawful trespass.
Later the same day, at approximately 11:40 am, officers responded to the area of North Winooski Avenue and Pearl Street regarding a mental health issue involving Reynolds. Upon arrival, officers observed Reynolds chasing an individual. Investigation revealed Reynolds had engaged in violent and tumultuous behavior in a public place, when he repeatedly punched a nearby mailbox. Reynolds was also lunging into a heavily trafficked intersection and approaching a pedestrian in an aggressive manner. Reynolds was taken into custody.
Reynolds has the following criminal history: 162 misdemeanor charges with 42 convictions, 19 felony charges with 6 convictions, 39 violations of court orders or conditions charges with 3 convictions, and 10 failures to appear.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact the Burlington Police Department at (802) 658-2704.
