Mughsot of Michael Gomez Belardo. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A St. Croix resident has been ordered a psychiatric evaluation before a V.I. Superior Court judge can consider him eligible for bail.
Michael Gomez Belardo, age 65, was recently arrested on charges of disturbance of the peace by threats, attempted aggravated assault, littering and trespassing.
His arrest follows a report by a man who reached out to the V.I. Police Department requesting assistance with a male individual who was trespassing on his property and refusing to leave.
According to the police report, the man arrived at his property on September 3rd and found Belardo loitering and littering on the property. The man said he had made several police reports in reference to Belardo’s loitering, trespassing and littering on his property, and was advised by police to place a ‘no trespassing’ sign, which he did.
When police arrived at the scene they noticed Belardo creating a disturbance with the property owner, asking him to leave the property because he, Belardo, was the owner of the property. Belardo was advised by police that he was being placed under arrest for trespassing, at which time he said that officers were not going to place him under arrest because he would hurt and kill the the officers and their family members.
The property owner expressed his concern over Belardo’s threats towards him, as well his use of derogatory words in the presence of police. Belardo was then advised to leave the property and he did.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, contact was made with Belardo again at gas station and he was further advised that he would be placed under arrest for trespassing. When asked to turn around and place his hands behind his back to be secured in handcuffs, Belardo allegedly responded, "No, I not accepting no arrest,' and began walking away from the officers in a backward motion. Police attempted to pull Belardo’s right hand to put him in handcuffs but he pulled his hand away, attempting to strike one of the officers in the face with a closed fist. Belardo then began running away to evade arrest and was ordered to stop. Police then used force against him to successfully apprehend and subsequently place him under arrest for trespassing.
In court on Monday, the judge ruled that Belardo had until September 19 to receive a psychiatric evaluation and only then would bail be granted, if the circumstances warranted it.
Bail was set at $1,000. Belardo will not be permitted to leave St. Croix and he will need to report to the Office of Probation every Tuesday between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. He will not be permitted to enter the premises of the alleged victim, and will be required to maintain 1,000 ft from him.
