Mugsnot of Daniel Thomas. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A man who reportedly kidnapped his ex-girlfriend from her place of work after sexually assaulting her in front of her coworkers is now facing felony charges in court.
Police were called to a service station in Little Princess just before 10:30 on Tuesday morning. When officers arrived, they learned that 55-year-old Daniel Thomas had reportedly come inside the store where his ex-girlfriend worked. He first reportedly shoved her aside and punched her co-worker in the face.
The woman recounted to police how Thomas then reportedly grabbed her between the legs and subsequently sniffed his hand. She further told police that he seized her arm and began to drag her out of the store, telling her to come with him or else he would kill her.
The woman told police that she complied, and went with Thomas to his silver Kia Optima. As they drove off, she said she managed to call a friend to alert them to what was happening, but immediately disconnected the call as she had been instructed not to contact anyone. She said that her cell phone rang, but that her ex grabbed her by the neck and squeezed, obstructing her breathing. She was able to get him to release his grip, upon which he slapped her on the left cheek, she told police.
The pair drove to a bushy area, where the woman said that Thomas kissed her on the same cheek he had previously slapped, pulled down his pants, and demanded she perform a sex act, which she refused.
At that point, he ordered her out of the vehicle and drove off, reportedly saying that he would come back for her. However, she immediately tried calling her friend for assistance, but upon noticing that her phone had been reset, she began walking until she came across some police officers, who rendered assistance.
Police found Thomas at a location in La Grande Princess on Tuesday afternoon, and took him into custody. Later that same day, they received a statement from the friend that the woman had called for assistance. They told officers about that phone call, and said that they also received a subsequent call from Thomas, who asked what he should do. The friend said they told him to leave his ex alone.
For his part, Thomas admitted to assaulting the woman’s coworker at the service station, but claimed that his ex-girlfriend was not taken against her will. He also admitted to calling the woman’s friend, and being advised to leave her alone. Police then charged him with kidnapping and false imprisonment, second-degree assault, and unlawful sexual contact — all as crimes of domestic violence.
Thomas was remanded into custody until his advice of rights hearing on September 27. In court on Wednesday, Magistrate Yolan Brow-Ross found probable cause to uphold all the charges against Thomas and ordered him released from custody until a bail hearing scheduled for Friday.
