SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Police have released new video of what they say was a random assault of a man at the University Mall in South Burlington, and now the victim in that attack is speaking out.
“Honestly, it’s just really confusing,” said Colin Snyder, who was at the UMall with his partner Saturday around noon when a complete stranger blindsided him. “All of a sudden, somebody jumped behind me and put their arm around my neck and stomach and just started dragging me down to the ground.”
Surveillance video shows Synder in shock as he watches the stranger go into a nearby store. “It was one of the most random things that’s ever happened to me — and scary — and definitely don’t want that to happen to anybody else,” he said.
“This was not a violent or a felonious assault but still something that we’re concerned about and investigating,” said South Burlington Police Chief Shawn Burke. He says they are looking for a Black male around 6-foot-2, with facial hair. “So we can interview that person and understand in full context what happened.” Burke adds that stranger violence is actually fairly rare,
As for Snyder, he’s not planning to stay away from the mall for long. “Definitely be there Saturday. Hopefully, no more incidents happen,” he said,
Anyone with information is asked to call the police in South Burlington at 802-846-4626.