The VIPD has not released a mugshot of Sherma Thomas. This article will be updated if one becomes available.
ST. THOMAS — A woman accused of attacking a former friend outside the Red Hook marine terminal has been charged with multiple felonies following an incident that unfolded in full view of surveillance cameras late last month, according to court records and police accounts.
The alleged assault occurred on the morning of December 28 at the Urman Victor Marine Terminal. The complainant told police she was at the terminal dropping off her sister when Sherma Thomas was driving directly behind them. According to the woman, she and her sister had argued with Thomas the night before, and tensions resurfaced the following morning as Thomas repeatedly honked her horn while following their vehicle.
After her sister was dropped off, the woman said she began driving toward the terminal exit and briefly made eye contact with Thomas. At that point, Thomas allegedly threw a bottle that struck the woman’s vehicle. The woman told police she exited her car to check for damage, but while doing so, she saw Thomas running toward her. She attempted to re-enter the vehicle and leave but was unable to do so in time.
Thomas allegedly opened the car door and began punching, scratching, and biting the woman, according to the report. Staff at the Red Hook terminal intervened and pulled Thomas away. Despite the intervention, the woman reported that three gold necklaces were taken during the altercation, with a combined value exceeding $5,000.
After Thomas was removed from the terminal, the woman drove directly to police to file a report. Her sister also provided a statement to officers, identifying Thomas as a co-worker at a hotel on St. John and corroborating the sequence of events described by the complainant.
Police reviewed surveillance footage from the terminal, which they said captured the incident in its entirety, including the bottle being thrown, the physical confrontation, and Thomas being pulled away from the vehicle by staff.
Officers later spoke with Thomas on Tuesday, and she reportedly admitted to being “in the wrong,” according to police. She turned herself in on Wednesday afternoon and was remanded into custody pending her initial court appearance.
Thomas now faces charges of third-degree robbery, third-degree assault, simple assault, second-degree reckless endangerment, grand larceny, and disturbance of the peace by fighting. Court records show she appeared before Magistrate Julie Smith Todman on Thursday, though the outcome of that hearing had not been made public as of press time.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for January 30.
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