Michael Reynolds deemed incompetent to stand trial
A Burlington man, 46-year-old Michael Reynolds, has been declared incompetent to stand trial after his latest arrest, as announced by court officials. The decision was made during a hearing on March 19, where it was confirmed that Reynolds, who is unhoused, has been in custody since early February on charges of simple assault and disorderly conduct related to an incident at the Feeding Chittenden Food Shelf. Reynolds has an extensive history with law enforcement, with 1,800 encounters recorded throughout his life, including arrests and warnings.
Chittenden County Deputy State's Attorney Alexandra Sturges reported that Reynolds is currently seeking admission to a treatment facility in Brattleboro for additional support. The court will proceed by appointing legal aid and a guardian ad litem to advocate for Reynolds' interests. A hearing regarding potential hospitalization has been scheduled for April 7.
Before his recent arrest, Reynolds had displayed erratic behavior, alarming those familiar with him. Employees at the Feeding Chittenden Food Shelf noted changes in his demeanor, including incoherent speech and bizarre statements, such as questioning his location and expressing a desire to arrest the staff. This shift in behavior raised concerns among those who interacted with him regularly.
Reynolds’ troubling history includes over 200 legal charges in recent years. His situation came to the forefront of community discussions in January amid controversy between Burlington Police Chief Jon Murad and Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak. The mayor implemented a new requirement for police news releases to be approved by her office after Murad highlighted Reynolds' repeated arrests in a release, suggesting that alternative solutions should be explored to prevent his cyclical return to the streets.
In court proceedings, both Reynolds' defense and the state acknowledged that the comments made by Chief Murad in his news release could potentially influence the jury’s opinion, emphasizing the delicate nature of public discussions surrounding his case.