Deputies Arrest Fugitive at Burlington Hotel
The Chittenden County Sheriff's Office apprehended a 55-year-old man on a 2016 bank robbery warrant.
Updated on Oct. 27, 2026 in Crime — General
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The Street Crimes Division of the Chittenden County Sheriff's Office arrested 55-year-old Stephen J. Silva on a 2016 bank robbery warrant from Woonsocket, Rhode Island. The arrest took place Monday afternoon at the Wilson Hotel on Church Street in Burlington.
Why it matters
The apprehension closes a decade-old warrant for Silva, who has a history of previous convictions for armed robbery and robbery in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Judge Colin Owyang set $20,000 cash bail for Stephen J. Silva, who is currently detained at the Northwest State Correctional Facility in St. Albans. The arrest was executed on an outstanding 2016 warrant for a bank robbery in Rhode Island.
The players
Stephen J. Silva
He is a 55-year-old man with previous convictions for armed robbery and robbery in Massachusetts and Connecticut.
Chittenden County Sheriff's Office
This local law enforcement agency operates a Street Crimes Division that focuses on tracking and apprehending wanted individuals.
Colin Owyang
He is a Vermont Superior Court Judge who presided over the initial proceedings following the arrest.
Committee on Temporary Shelter
This organization operates the Wilson Hotel in Burlington as a facility for transitional housing.
The details
Deputies from the Street Crimes Division tracked Silva to the Wilson Hotel, which serves as transitional housing operated by the Committee on Temporary Shelter. He was taken into custody without resistance on the facility's front porch at approximately 2 p.m.
Timeline
The 2016 robbery occurred in Woonsocket, Rhode Island.
Silva was arrested in Burlington on Monday, October 26, 2026, at 2 p.m.
An arraignment is scheduled for Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Legal Context
This arrest follows a historical pattern of robbery cases in the region, including the 2016 TD Bank robbery in Brattleboro that involved the same suspect. It reflects broader efforts by law enforcement to clear long-standing warrants for individuals with extensive criminal records.
The arrest occurred at a local transitional housing facility on Church Street, which may be of interest to residents observing law enforcement activity in the downtown area. Authorities have confirmed the suspect was apprehended without resistance, posing no immediate safety threat to the public.
The takeaway
This case highlights the enduring nature of criminal warrants and the role of specialized police divisions in monitoring high-risk fugitives. Residents are reminded to report suspicious activity to local authorities to aid in the ongoing administration of justice.
What happens next
Stephen J. Silva is scheduled for an arraignment on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
Further reading
For more updates on local law enforcement efforts, visit the Crime — General page.
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Should law enforcement prioritize arresting individuals for cold-case warrants from over a decade ago?
