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A Burlington resident is being held pending a mental health evaluation after police say the person assaulted a stranger during the theft and destruction of a cellphone at the city bus terminal last week.
According to Burlington Police, officers responded at about 4:35 p.m. April 30 to the bus terminal at 100 Cherry St. for a reported assault and robbery. Police said Refga A. Laku, 30, of Burlington, targeted a person unknown to Laku and used force to steal the victim’s cellphone.
Investigators said security camera footage showed Laku taking the phone from the victim and smashing it on the ground. When the victim attempted to retrieve the damaged phone, police said Laku assaulted the individual to regain control of it before smashing the device a second time.
Responding officers arrested Laku at the scene. Laku was charged with assault robbery and felony unlawful mischief.
Police said Laku was arraigned May 1 and remains in custody pending an evaluation by the Department of Mental Health.
The incident was not Laku’s first encounter with the law. Media reports show a charge for burglary in Chittenden County three years ago.
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Categories: Burlington, Crime
Of Burlington ? And I’m sure that this was his first run in with the law, right ? I’d be very surprised if he isn’t out and about endangering others already.
One has to be careful these days assuming anything and in the subsequent choice of pronouns. The story was skillfully written as to contain no indication of gender/sex.
At some point this cretin will assault the wrong individual and won’t be able to advance through revolving door that currently exists in the Chittenden County criminal court system.
There’s a good reason Refka doesn’t reside in Northern VT.
And who is Zaaina Mavish-Jammeh?
What did s/he do to Leah Rosin-Pritchard in Brattleboro?
Don’t worry, Sarah George will not prosecute him because of the lack of evidence…
Thankfully the bus depot does not have sunken tracks for pushing unsuspecting people down into…but I suppose these days the same rules should apply in Burlington as in the NYC public transit system: dont show any bling and no eye contact.
Nice city you have going there, Mayor Emma Hyphen.
Just another reason not to go to Burlington and find another place to do your shopping.