Mugshot of Jeffrey Torres. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Bail has been set in the amount of $50,000 for a U.S. national who allegedly assaulted a man and threatened a police detective.
At about 7:30 pm on Sunday September 19th, officers responded to a report of an assault in the area of Super Cat Laundry, where they found a man actively bleeding from a deep laceration above the eye. The victim stated that he was about to catch a ride home when a man caught him off guard and struck him with a sharp object before fleeing. This account was supported by several witnesses, according to the probable cause fact sheet.
After searching the vicinity, a detective located a possible suspect who fit the description provided and ordered him to get on the ground. However, the detective stated that the individual, later identified as Jeffrey Torres, displayed an icepick and yelled “you will have to [expletive] shoot me before I get to stab you!” Despite the officer unholstering his firearm and ordering the suspect to drop his weapon, Torres allegedly advanced towards the officer swinging the ice pick and saying “shoot me [expletive]!” According to police, Torres then complied with a final command to drop the weapon and lay face down on the ground. However, it is said that while the detective patted him down, Torres threatened, “I should have [expletive] stabbed you, just like I should have cut that other [expletive] throat!”
The probable cause fact sheet alleges that when the detective questioned why Torres assaulted the victim, he replied, “He [expletive] with me earlier by the beach and I was waiting for the right time to get revenge.” Torres is also said to have admitted that he ran up to the victim to “cut his [expletive] throat and decapitate him.”
According to police, Torres also stated, “Lock me the [expletive] up, I did five years I will do another five but when I get out, I’m going to [expletive] kill that white [expletive] and decapitate his [expletive] head.”
The victim reportedly suffered injuries so severe that he had to be treated for a concussion, orbital fracture and laceration. The victim’s injuries required five internal stitches and ten external stitches which are expected to leave a permanent scar. The victim reportedly stated that while he has seen his attacker around and has exchanged words with him, he never did anything to warrant the assault.
Forty-six year-old Torres now faces a slew of charges — first and third-degree assault, third-degree assault on a peace officer, mayhem, using a dangerous weapon in a crime of violence and disturbance of the peace. If convicted of first-degree assau,t, Torres will face a maximum imprisonment of fifteen years, while he could face a maximum of ten years in prison, a maximum fine of $10,000 or both, for assaulting a peace officer. For the weapon-related charge, the accused could face a $10,000 fine or a maximum imprisonment of fifteen years, in addition to the sentence for the violent offenses.
At an advisement hearing on Monday, Alexia Furlow of the Office of the Public Defender requested that Torres’ $75,000 bail be reduced. Defying orders to remain silent, Torres exclaimed that he had never been in trouble since moving to the Virgin Islands nearly four years ago. However, Attorney Brenda Scales highlighted that Torres had several offenses in the U.S., some of which carried convictions. Noting that Torres posed a danger to the community and a flight risk, Scales requested that he be placed on house arrest with an electronic monitor.
Judge Carolyn Hermon- Purcell expressed concern not only for the safety of the victim, but for that of any potential witnesses. She further voiced concerns over the possibility of the defendant having a mental health problem. Consequently, a written mental health evaluation must be provided to the court before Torres can be released on bail into the custody of a suitable custodian.
Torres is strictly prohibited from any contact with the victim and must maintain a minimum distance of fifty feet at all times. He is also forbidden from unlawful contact with any potential witnesses and has been subjected to a 5:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. curfew.
Bail has been set in the amount of $50,000 with no 10 percent provision.
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