On November 2, 2014 at approximately 1:28 am, Officers Ryan Rabideau and Ethan Czyzewski were responding to the intersection of Main Street and South Winooski Avenue on foot for a report of a man climbing a telephone pole. Prior to locating that call they saw a man, later identified as Shane Langevin (20) of Winooski, strike another man in the head causing the man to fall to the ground.
As they immediately attempted to take Langevin into custody for the assault he refused to place his hands behind his back to be handcuffed. A struggle ensued and Langevin was brought temporarily to the ground. As the two officers were attempting to get Langevin into handcuffs Langevin attempted to stand up and delivered a blow with his elbow to the right eye of Officer Ryan Rabideau. Langevin also struck Officer Ethan Czyzewski in the jaw during the struggle. Langevin freed himself and began to try to flee. Langevin was Tased, which temporarily stopped him and caused him to fall to the ground.
Langevin continued to struggle and officers were unable to secure his hands because he was on his stomach forcing his hands underneath his body. Officers delivered several strikes to Langevin’s back in an effort to get him to free his hands. These strikes are consistent with officer training and are referred to as “distractionary strikes” done in hopes of distracting or stunning someone to assist in gaining control. Throughout the encounter Langevin was asked and ordered to comply and stop resisting.
During the struggle, a crowd of people was yelling at officers. As the officers tried to get Langevin into handcuffs, staff from nearby bars and restaurants assisted officers in keeping the crowd back. Despite those efforts, a man later identified as Michael Mazza (32) of Milton, approached officers with clenched fists as they struggled on the ground with Langevin. Mazza stopped after being sprayed with pepper spray. Mazza was taken into custody without further incident. He was lodged for Impeding a Public Officer. Bail was set at $750. He has no known criminal history in Vermont.
Backup officers, who had been summoned via radio, arrived to assist. At that time officers were able to handcuff Langevin. Langevin was transported to the Burlington Police Station where he was processed and subsequently lodged at the Chittenden Regional Correctional Facility on the charges noted above. Bail was set at $5,000. Langevin has multiple prior charges and convictions for Disorderly Conduct, Assault, Domestic Assault, Violation of Probation, and other misdemeanor charges. He is currently on probation for Violation of an Abuse Prevention Order, Disorderly Conduct, Simple Assault, Operating a Vehicle without the Owner’s Consent. Possession of Marijuana. He was sentenced on May 15, 2014 on those charges.
Both were scheduled to be arraigned today at the Chittenden Superior Court, Criminal Division.
It appears that Langevin and Mazza were not together and may not have known each other.
Neither Langevin nor Mazza were injured. Officer Czyzewski was treated for a facial contusion at Fletcher Allen Emergency Department and released.
Officers initially involved with Langevin have not yet been issued body worn cameras as the Department is only mid-way through deployment of them. It is anticipated that full deployment will be complete in January. Officers who responded to assist did have cameras on. Video from those cameras will be posted to our website with this release shortly. This afternoon we learned that the initial assault witnessed by officers was captured by cell phone video by another bystander. We are working to determine if that video can be released at this stage of the prosecution.
