On Tuesday May 26, 2015 at approximately 1:19 pm a Burlington Police officer on patrol in the area of Colchester Avenue and Chase Street was advised by an unknown woman that she had just been groped by an unknown male. The victim reported the male had grabbed her buttocks while riding by her on a bike. The male fled as the officer approached but was located and detained after a brief pursuit. The suspect was detained on an unrelated matter however his identity is being withheld due to an on-going criminal investigation.
The Burlington Police and the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigation are asking the victim in this incident to contact Detective Mathew Hill of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations at 802-652-6802. Any victims or witnesses to this incident or any other similar incident are also asked to contact Detective Mathew Hill of the Chittenden Unit for Special Investigations at 802-652-6802
-End of Press Release-
5/27/15 UPDATE:
On May 24, 2015 Officers who were working the Marathon security detail were approached by a witness who had observed a male a “grabbing” at females buttocks in Battery Park. The witness advised police that the grabbing was intentional and appeared to be unwanted by the female. The witness took a photograph of the suspect and provided the photo to the police.
The male suspect was identified as John Discola, 37 years old, from Hadley Massachusetts. Discola is currently a transient living in the Burlington area.
Investigation revealed that there were a total of three complaints made regarding females being “groped” or “Grabbed” during the same time frame during the marathon.
On 05-26-2015 Burlington Police were alerted to another “Grabbing” in the area of the Winooski Bridge on Colchester Ave. A female alerted police that a male had grabbed her buttocks as he rode by her on his bicycle. The female victim pointed out the male to the police officer and when the officer approached, the male suspect fled on his bicycle, then on foot. The male was later apprehended and was identified as John Discola. The Chittenden Unit for Special investigations is asking anyone with information about any of these incidents to please call them at 652-6800. These incidents are still currently under investigation.
