A man was arrested Monday after police say he barricaded himself inside a Burlington bar and held two people hostage for several hours.
Tyshawn Lee, 23, was taken into custody on an array of charges after a standoff with police at T Rugg’s Tavern at Elmwood Avenue and North Street.
According to a press release issued late Monday by the Burlington Police Department, the incident began around 2:15 p.m. when officers spotted Lee near the intersection of North Champlain and Peru streets. He was wanted for a violation of conditions of release and felony identity theft, police said.
After one of the officers told Lee that he was under arrest, Lee backed up and pulled out two “cutting instruments,” holding one against his neck and pointing the other at the officer, according to the release. The officers drew his gun and Lee fled on foot, cutting through alleys, over fences and through backyards.
Lee then entered T Rugg’s Tavern. Most of the patrons fled, but two people were trapped with Lee, who guarded the doors and barricaded himself inside.
Schools in the area were briefly placed on lockdown, according to the release.
The standoff continued for several hours, and Vermont State Police were called in for assistance. At around 7:15 p.m., one of the hostages — a woman — escaped the bar and the other — a man — began fighting Lee. That’s when police moved in and “engaged” Lee with less-lethal munitions, a flash-bang device and a police canine, according to the release.
Police found several Molotov cocktails inside the bar that they say Lee manufactured. “It appears that Mr. Lee’s efforts to use them may have occasioned the hostages’ flight and fight,” the release stated.
Lee was taken to the University of Vermont Medical Center for treatment and evaluations. He has more than 110 previous police engagements and an arrest history for felony domestic assault, aggravated assault, simple assault, driving with license suspended and vandalism, according to the release.
