VSP: Burlington man broke into Waterbury restaurant

January 10, 2024  |  Eric Blaisdell  |  Times Argus staff writer 

BARRE — A Burlington man is accused of breaking into a Waterbury restaurant and driving under the influence of drugs in separate incidents.

Thomas W. Grady, 25, pleaded not guilty Thursday in Washington County criminal court in Barre to a felony count of burglary and a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence.

If convicted, Grady faces a maximum sentence of 17 years in prison. He was released on conditions.

For the burglary charge, Trooper Mae Murdock, of the Vermont State Police, said in her affidavit a burglary was reported at Maxi’s Restaurant on Oct. 1. Murdock said a witness at the restaurant reported Grady, a former employee, broke into the restaurant on Sept. 30 and made off with nearly $300 in cash.

The trooper said the witness reported Grady was seen on the restaurant’s surveillance system.

Murdock said the witness reported Grady took and drank alcohol while in the restaurant.

She said the witness reported Grady approached him Oct. 1 in Waterbury and reported there was money and alcohol missing from the restaurant and wanted to talk about it, but the witness told Grady he had already called police about the matter. Murdock said the witness hadn’t yet reported the burglary, but wanted to see how Grady would react.

She said the witness reported later finding a note, presumably from Grady, stating they knew who took the money and booze from the restaurant. The trooper said the witness reported Grady likely left the note before he and the witness spoke, and the witness reported Grady has tried to speak with him about the incident multiple times since.

Murdock said she then spoke to another witness who works at the restaurant and knows Grady personally. She said this witness reported she was 100% confident that the person seen in the restaurant on the surveillance footage was Grady.

The trooper said the witness reported Grady left her $90 in her mailbox, money he had owed her and reportedly didn’t have available before Sept. 30.

Murdock said the witness showed her text messages from Grady, in which he was trying contact those at the restaurant to “make this right.”

The trooper said she reached out to Grady and he reported he knew she wanted to talk about an incident at Maxi’s, but declined to discuss the matter with her.

Murdock noted she told Grady a no trespass order had been issued for him for another property in Waterbury and Grady responded, “I didn’t break into that place.”

For the DUI charge, police said a man called police on Nov. 23 to report a male was passed out in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in Duxbury. Police said the caller later reported the male had awakened and did not appear safe to drive because his eyes were glazed over.

Police said the driver, later identified as Grady, refused to be transported by emergency responders and tried to drive away from the scene, but was pulled over by a trooper who recognized the vehicle from the caller’s description.

Police said Grady admitted to using cannabis earlier in the day. He was unsteady on his feet while performing sobriety exercises and lacked balance, according to court records.

Police said Grady consented to a blood draw and was taken to Central Vermont Medical Center. Court records show the Vermont Forensic Lab later found Grady had cocaine, fentanyl and THC in his system when his blood was drawn.