Swanton man attacks Burlington police officer on Church Street

A Swanton man is behind bars after allegedly attacking a Burlington police officer on Church Street early on the morning of July 27. While patrolling the Market Square, two Burlington Police and Community Service officers noticed a man named Michael Gbenusola walking down Church Street and shouting racial slurs. According to BPD, one of the officers asked Gbenusola if he needed help after he approached them while punching his chest. He then punched the officer in the face so hard that he was thrown backwards. Witnesses told police that Gbenusola continued to chase the officer after the initial attack, at which point the officer drew his Taser and repeatedly ordered Gbenusola to back off. He continued to advance toward the officer, at which point the officer fired his Taser. Additional police officers quickly arrived on the scene and prevented him from further attacking the officer, who had sustained a significant head injury and was showing signs of a concussion. The officer was taken to the University of Vermont emergency room to be evaluated for possible traumatic brain injury. Gbenusola was also taken to the emergency room as a precaution after being tasered. According to police, Gbenusola has a lengthy criminal history in both New York and Vermont, including three failures to appear for court hearings, six violations of court orders with one conviction, six felony charges with one conviction, nine misdemeanor charges with five convictions and two assault charges with one conviction. Gbenusola is being held without bail at the Northwest Correctional Facility.