23-year-old had 110 encounters with police
By Paul Bean
A tense situation unfolded in Burlington Monday, January 22 as law enforcement responded to a barricaded scenario involving 23-year-old Tyshawn Lee at T. Rugg’s Tavern. The young man was wanted for alleged violations of release conditions and felony identity theft, prompting authorities to take action.
According to police, the incident began when an officer confronted Lee near North Champlain Street, informing him of his arrest. In response, Lee, armed with two cutting instruments, one pointed at the officer and the other at his own neck, retreated and managed to escape, initiating a pursuit. Multiple officers engaged in a chase, navigating through alleys, over fences, and across backyards, eventually witnessing Lee entering T. Rugg’s Tavern on Elmwood Avenue.
As officers approached, many patrons evacuated the bar, but two individuals found themselves trapped inside with Lee. The situation escalated as Lee secured the doors, barricading himself inside. Recognizing the complexity of the situation, Burlington Police called upon Vermont State Police for assistance around 5 p.m. The standoff endured until about 7 p.m. when one of the hostages, a female, managed to escape from Lee’s grasp.
Subsequently, the male hostage began resisting, leading to a confrontation with police. In a strategic intervention, police utilized less-lethal rounds, a flash-bang distraction device, and a police canine to subdue Lee. The male hostage was rescued, and Lee was taken into custody. The investigation revealed that Molotov cocktails, concocted by Lee, were discovered inside the bar.
Tyshawn Lee’s troubled history with the law came to light, with over 110 previous run-ins with the police. His arrest record included charges such as felony domestic assault, aggravated assault, simple assault, driving with a suspended license, and vandalism. Amid the intense situation, witnesses recounted Lee’s apparent crisis inside the bar. A woman inside with her friend described the moment when Lee, amidst a police presence outside, began crafting Molotov cocktails. Reacting to the escalating danger, she grabbed a bar stool, struck Lee, and fled with her friend. Fortunately, both hostages emerged unharmed from the ordeal.
The incident triggered a temporary lockdown of nearby schools as a precautionary measure, with students being released around 3:10 p.m. Authorities are still in the process of determining the charges for Monday night’s events. Individuals with additional information about Tyshawn Lee or the incident are encouraged to contact the Burlington Police Department at 802-658-2704.