Mugshot of Mauville Lake. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Police have charged a man who allegedly assaulted an Emergency Medical Technician while in police custody.
Mauville Lake was arrested on Sunday afternoon after an officer conducting traffic enforcement observed a vehicle speeding and advised the operator to slow down. According to the probable cause fact sheet, Lake kept on driving and another officer flagged the vehicle and ordered him to stop. He then approached the vehicle and requested the relevant documents from the driver. While verifying the documents, an officer observed a marijuana cigarette in the driver’s side door and a strong odor of marijuana.
Lake was instructed to exit the vehicle and according to the fact sheet, he informed police that he had a firearm in a bag on the passenger seat. He further admitted that he did not have a permit for the weapon, according to police. While searching the vehicle the officers found several small ziplock bags with a green leafy substance inside the bag. According to the fact sheet, an officer deemed the substance to be marijuana, based on his law enforcement experience. The officer also found a Taurus G-2 firearm with one round in the chamber.
Lake was placed in the police vehicle and transported to a medical facility to receive a Covid-19 test. While there he indicated that he thought his blood sugar was low and needed something sweet. An officer subsequently gave him a soda and brought him to have his vitals tested. Lake was later transported to the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex where he indicated that he suffers from diabetes and did not feel well. Lake reportedly declined medical attention but accepted the offer of water.
However, when the officer returned to the booking room he found Lake lying on the floor and subsequently requested assistance from an Emergency Medical Technician. According to police, while the EMT attempted to assist Lake, the officer heard a scuffle and then observed Lake swing his hand towards the EMT’s face. Officers were able to subdue him and transport him to the hospital where he was admitted.
The fact sheet states that while being assisted, he threatened the officers, stating “wait til I 100 percent I go do what I have to do, I ain’t no punk.” He was later booked and processed and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections after failing to post bail in the amount of $25,000.
At his advisement hearing on Monday, a judge found probable cause to charge Lake with possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of illegal ammunition and simple assault. However, probable cause was not found for the charge of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute. This was after the arresting officer disclosed under questioning that the substance found in the bag was not field-tested. The judge declared that the officer deeming the substance to be marijuana simply off his experience was not sufficient. At the conclusion of the hearing, bail was lowered to $25,000 with a 10 percent provision.
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