Mugshot of Delli Eduardo. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A 25-year-old man was arrested Tuesday after police say an adult woman reported that he held her against her will, assaulted her, and forced her and her minor children to travel with him from Sunny Isles Shopping Center to the David Hamilton Housing Terrace.
According to the V.I. Police Department, the case began on March 15 at approximately 12:20 p.m., when the woman walked into the Ancilmo D. Marshall Command Police Station and told officers she had been held against her will and assaulted by a former acquaintance.
A detective from the Criminal Investigation Bureau was assigned to investigate. During that investigation, police said the woman reported that she had agreed to meet Delli Eduardo near Church’s Chicken at his request.
The woman told investigators that when Eduardo arrived, he removed her keys from the ignition of her vehicle and took her cellphone, then refused to return it when she asked. Police said the investigation further found that Eduardo then demanded that she get back into her vehicle.
According to VIPD, Eduardo then took the woman and her minor children from the Sunny Isles Shopping Center to the David Hamilton Housing Terrace against her will.
Police also said the investigation showed that Eduardo strangled the woman, leaving visible injuries.
As authorities worked to locate him, an all-points bulletin was issued through the 911 Emergency Call Center and on social media, but police said those efforts initially did not lead to his capture.
That changed on Tuesday, when police said a tip was received indicating that Eduardo was at his place of employment. Detectives went to that location, made contact with him, and arrested him without incident.
The VIPD said Eduardo was transported to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, where he was advised of his Miranda Rights. According to police, he declined to give a statement and was booked.
Eduardo was charged with false imprisonment and kidnapping, and second-degree assault.
Police said no bail was set in the matter pending his appearance before a judge. He was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility to await his Advice of Rights Hearing.
Advertisements
