Mugshot of Michael Joseph. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man appeared before a judge in the V.I. Superior Court on DUI charges following an accident in Frederiksted on Oct. 23.
Michael Joseph was arrested and charged on Sunday for driving under the influence of an intoxicating liquor, driving with a blood alcohol content of.08 or more and negligent driving.
His arrest follows a report placed with the 911 Emergency Call Center of an auto collision on Queen Street, near the Frederiksted Fire Station.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, upon arrival at the scene, police made contact with the drivers of both vehicles involved in the collision — a woman who drove what investigators labeled vehicle 1 and Michael Joseph who drove vehicle 2.
The woman said she was traveling south along Queen Street when she felt a sudden impact to the rear of her vehicle. Joseph said he was traveling south on the same roadway when he observed multiple people operating ATVs, driving recklessly through traffic. Joseph further stated that when he was trying to avoid colliding with someone on an ATV, he hit the rear of the woman’s vehicle.
During the interview process, Joseph’s speech was slurred and police detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his breath and person. He was advised that he would be subjected to the standardized field sobriety tests, which he agreed, participate in and subsequently failed, according to the probable cause fact sheet.
At the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, Joseph agreed to take the chemical test of his breath. He blew into the intoximeter, revealing a breath alcohol content of 0.096%, which was above the 0.08% limit.
Investigations revealed that both drivers were traveling south on Queen Street in the vicinity of the Frederiksted Fire Station when Joseph’s vehicle struck the rear of the woman’s vehicle. While the woman’s vehicle sustained damages to the rear bumper, there were no damages to Joseph’s vehicle.
In court on Monday, a judge ruled that Joseph will be allowed to post his driver’s license in lieu of the $1,000 bail amount. He is to remain gainfully employed, and have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the victim or any witnesses in this matter pending trial.
