Mugshot of Yolande Joseph. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — Yolande Joseph, a former employee of a local cleaning service, is facing felony charges of third-degree assault and disturbance of the peace following an altercation with her former employer.
According to court documents, Police were called to the Human Services building on Thursday evening following reports of an assault. They interviewed the cleaning service owner, who explained that she had arrived at the worksite around 7:00 p.m. to find her employees complaining about Joseph's lack of work. A verbal altercation ensued between the owner and Joseph, prompting the owner to leave the room to defuse the situation.
A security guard, informed of the dispute, subsequently removed Joseph from the building. The owner encountered Joseph again outside the building where Joseph demanded immediate payment of her wages and a ride home. The owner informed her that payment would be made on September 1 after reconciling her work hours and asked her husband to drive Joseph home.
Joseph reacted by throwing herself to the ground, removing her pants, and shouting in Creole that she would not leave. She then allegedly threw a can of water at the owner's head and physically attacked her. Despite intervention attempts by a security guard, who was also reportedly struck, the situation was not contained until a second security guard arrived, according to court documents.
Although she refused medical attention, the owner pressed charges against Joseph, who was subsequently arrested. Joseph appeared in court on Friday morning where she was granted pre-trial release under specific conditions including a $25,000 unsecured bond. She has been ordered to remain employed with the cleaning service but must maintain a distance of at least twenty feet from the owner and other staff.
Joseph's next court appearance is scheduled for September 15. She is also mandated to remain within the St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island district unless given explicit court permission to leave, to surrender her passport, and to make weekly contact with the probation office by telephone.
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