Carla Occaso
MONTPELIER – A Burlington man allegedly tried to punch both an ambulance medical worker and a police officer who were trying to help him on State Street Aug. 21 at around 12:45 a.m. This led to police taking the man into custody and bringing him to Central Vermont Medical Center for mental health and medical checks, according to a police report.
Remington Smith, 34, of Burlington, had been standing in the roadway near 100 State Street when Montpelier ambulance personnel responded to try to bring him to safety, the report states. Police then arrived to intervene and brought Smith to the hospital following a scuffle. After Smith arrived at the hospital, he allegedly threatened medical staff members and kicked a doctor in the face, causing injury.
After the medical evaluation, police brought Smith to the Northeast Regional Correctional Facility in St. Johnsbury to be held on $5,000 in accordance with an order issued by a Superior Court judicial officer. Smith was scheduled to appear in Washington County Superior Court, Criminal Division, to answer to charges of aggravated assault on a protected professional, simple assault on a protected professional, and disorderly conduct.
Montpelier police have apparently had their hands full with fewer officers, lately. Their published data for the week ending Aug. 26 show they responded to 187 calls, including 56 related to unhoused individuals, 27 traffic stops, five motor vehicle crashes, and 19 mental-health-related calls. There were also six arrests, with charges including simple assault, disorderly conduct, assaulting a police officer, assault on a protected professional, retail theft, unlawful trespass, and arrest on warrant.
A recent Montpelier Police Department Facebook page entry noted: “We’ve heard community concerns about disturbances, disruptive behavior, and safety downtown. We share those concerns and continue to prioritize foot patrols, directed patrols, and a visible police presence whenever staffing and call volume allow,” The post went on to say public spaces “belong to everyone, and people have the right to gather, access public property, and express themselves” even if the expression is unpleasant or uncomfortable. Police can only take enforcement action when conduct is criminal or creates a public safety concern.
The post also pointed to situations such as the above arrest where “officers have been handling significant call volume during a period of reduced staffing, including serious incidents and felony arrests requiring lengthy processing, transports, and lodging. Some of these incidents have involved assaults or attempted assaults against our officers. Every officer committed to an arrest, hospital, transport, or priority call is temporarily unavailable for more proactive work.”
The Facebook post ended by affirming that the police want residents, businesses, employees, and visitors to feel safe downtown.
