By Kolby LaMarche and VDC staff

A Philadelphia man accused of stabbing an unhoused woman in downtown Burlington earlier this month has pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon and remains held without bail pending an October 19 hearing.

Umar Amin Jr., 34, of Philadelphia, was arrested October 9 in connection with the October 3 stabbing near Pearl and Clarke streets.

According to Burlington police, officers responded around 4:45 AM to reports of a woman yelling for help. The victim told police that a man she did not know began yelling at her near Church and Cherry streets before assaulting her. The attack continued near Pearl and Clarke streets, where she was stabbed in the back.

The woman, who has no known address, was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center with injuries that were not life-threatening. She was treated and released later that evening.

Police initially sought public assistance identifying the suspect, describing him as a man with long hair who wore round glasses, a black and teal vest, and a white and blue brimmed hat.

Amin was arraigned October 13 in Vermont Superior Court, Chittenden Criminal Division. He pleaded not guilty to aggravated assault with a weapon and was ordered held without bail pending a weight-of-the-evidence hearing October 19.

If convicted, Amin faces up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

Barre man arrested on three outstanding warrants

A 24-year-old Barre City man was arrested October 13 after Berlin police responded to complaints about suspicious behavior, littering and spilled alcoholic beverages at the Berlin Mall.

Police identified the man as Connor Copley and discovered three outstanding arrest warrants issued by courts in Chittenden and Washington counties.

The warrants involved a probation violation connected to a misdemeanor simple assault charge, failure to appear on a charge of driving with a criminally suspended license related to DUI, and failure to appear in a disorderly conduct case involving fighting.

The warrants dated to October and November 2024 and arose from separate investigations by police in Burlington, Milton and Montpelier.

Officers later located Copley at his workplace, Chipotle Mexican Grill on Eclipse Circle in Berlin, and took him into custody.

Copley was also cited for unlawful mischief stemming from the Berlin Mall incident and issued a notice against trespass prohibiting him from returning to the property.

The three outstanding warrants did not specify monetary bail and directed police to cite and release him.

Copley was cited to appear October 14 in Washington County Superior Court on the disorderly conduct warrant, October 15 in Chittenden County Superior Court on the other two warrants, and November 26 in Washington County Superior Court on the new unlawful mischief charge.

He was released following processing.

Beaver suspect in Monkton burglary

A 44-year-old Vergennes man was cited for burglary Wednesday evening, October 14, after Vermont State Police said he forced his way into an unoccupied residence in Monkton.

Troopers responded around 7:17 PM to a reported burglary on Vaughn Court.

According to police, Ira P. Beaver entered the residence without permission and caused property damage.

Beaver was taken to the New Haven State Police Barracks for processing and subsequently released with a citation to appear October 15 at 12:30 PM in Addison County Superior Court, Criminal Division.