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.