BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Burlington Police spoke with Channel 3 News after a citizen assaulted one of their officers early Saturday morning.
Police say it happened around 1:30 a.m. Saturday, when a police officer and a community service officer were on foot-patrol at the corner of Church and Main streets.
41-year-old Michael Gbenusola was walking south on Church St. yelling racial slurs and swear words, and when the officer asked if he was ok, Gbenusola swore at him and then violently punched the officer in the face – knocking him backwards.
Burlington Police Department’s Lieutenant Mike Henry says it saddens him to see his officers treated in this way.
“It’s hard to watch, hard to watch an officer just standing there. Just minding the crowd. Making sure people are safe. Then violently gets attacked for no reason. Over the years, I would say safety for police officers have changed dramatically,” Lt. Michael Henry with Burlington Police said,
The officer who was assaulted is on medical leave, and the department is not sure when he will be returning to work.