Mugshot of Warren Freeman. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man said to be suffering with mental illness was arrested and charged with attempted murder among other charges after allegedly accelerating a vehicle in the direction of police officers, the V.I. Police Department has announced.
According to V.I.P.D. Director of Communications Glen Dratte, on Monday at approximately 9:53 a.m., officers were dispatched by the 911 Emergency Call Center to Clifton Hill after receiving a call requesting police assistance. The call was made by a male individual who said his mentally ill brother, Warren Freeman, had arrived at their residence naked and making threats in a Centerline Car Rental Jeep whose return date had passed.
Officers arrived at the location and interviewed the complainant, who stated that Freeman was walking around without clothing during the weekend. The complainant further stated Freeman was threatening to harm the neighbors.
According to the V.I.P.D., a Centerline Car Rental employee who was present to pick up the vehicle along with V.I.P.D. officers, approached the vehicle which was parked to the rear of the residence. Freeman was seen in the vehicle without clothing sitting in the driver's seat while the vehicle was idling.
Officers then made several attempts to get Freeman out of the vehicle by advising him to turn the jeep over to the rental company. Freeman rolled up the window and reversed the vehicle down the embankment, hitting the police vehicle, according to the V.I.P.D. He then drove forward at a high rate of speed which the V.I.P.D. interpreted as Freeman using the vehicle as a weapon as it was coming toward the officers and the Centerline Car Rental employee.
Mr. Dratte said an officer discharged her firearm, striking the Jeep. "No one was injured," the V.I.P.D. said.
The vehicle was forced to a stop and Freeman was subsequently arrested and charged with attempted murder, first-degree assault, and interfering with an officer discharging duties.
Three officers responded to the incident, including two females and one male. The police department said it is investigating how many shots were discharged.
Unable to make bail of $100,000, Freeman was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advisement hearing.
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