Burlington police: Man with over 100 arrests assaulted cafe owner

A Burlington man who police say has been arrested more than 100 times in the past six years pleaded not guilty to a charge that he assaulted the owner of a downtown business on Monday.

Michael Reynolds, 40, is a homeless Burlington man who has had close to 900 contacts with police since 2011, according to court papers. 

Brett Richland, the owner of East West Cafe on North Winooski, said Reynolds came into his restaurant on Saturday afternoon, claiming that it was his property. When Richland told him it wasn't, Reynolds punched him in the chest, knocking Richland over. 

Richland said the attack was in front of his 13 year-old daughter, who called 911. Richland said this wasn't the first incident that he has had with Reynolds, but this is the first time he's called 911. 

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"We shouldn’t have to deal with this while trying to run a business in this city," he said.

Reynolds has been given more than 90 trespass notices, prohibiting him from entering several downtown businesses, including City Market, Maglianero Cafe and Garcia Tobacco. 

Business owners have recently expressed frustration with disorderly behavior downtown, and Chief Brandon del Pozo told the Burlington Free Press that civil penalties were ineffective against repeat offenders because they carried only financial penalties.   

Reynolds has received more than 50 municipal ordinance tickets with fines exceeding $10,000, police said. 

He has 22 arrests for assault-related charges, police said. His public defender, Sara Puls, said the "vast majority" of his charges are non-violent misdemeanors such as disorderly conduct and unlawful trespass. 

She said Reynolds faces many challenges, such as obtaining stable housing and unemployment.

"I do not believe that the criminal justice system is well-equipped to provide him with either the services or the support that would really be necessary to address the underlying issues or causes of his repeated police contacts," she said. 

Reynolds was released without bail on Monday, on the condition that he have no contact with Richland and stay away from East West Cafe. 

Contact Jess Aloe at 802-660-1874 or jaloe@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @jess_aloe