The VIPD has not yet released a mugshot of the suspect. This story will be updated if one is provided.
ST. CROIX — A St. Croix man is facing unlawful sexual contact and assault charges after police say a woman reported that he approached her from behind while she stood in line at McDonald’s in La Reine, pressed against her, and fondled her breast.
The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon at the McDonald’s restaurant in La Reine, according to police. The woman told officers that while she was standing in line to order, an unknown man approached her from behind, muttered unintelligibly, and walked away.
The woman said the interaction made her uncomfortable, so she moved from where she had been standing in an effort to avoid the man and waited to be called to the register.
Shortly afterward, she told police, she felt someone press against her back. According to the police report, the person placed one hand on her stomach and the other on her chest, then began squeezing her right breast while “muttering and moaning in her ear.”
The woman said she used her shoulder to push off the unwanted advance and saw that it was the same man who had initially approached her.
She told police that she ran to her vehicle, armed herself with a knife and chemical irritant, and returned to the restaurant. By the time she got back inside, the man had left.
The woman then went back outside to contact police, but noticed a marked police unit nearby and flagged down the officers.
Although she was not physically injured, the woman told police she felt angry, disgusted and ashamed by what had happened.
She was able to show officers a picture of the man who assaulted her. Police identified him as Neil Durrant.
Store employees interviewed by police said they did not see the incident, but several confirmed that at the time they heard the woman cursing and saying the man had touched her.
Officers later found Durrant at a location in Castle Burke and took him to the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station for questioning.
According to police, Durrant admitted touching the woman on her back, but said he thought she was a “friend from the past.”
He was arrested and charged with first-degree unlawful sexual contact, simple assault and battery, and disturbance of the peace.
Durrant was remanded into custody and appeared before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross on Thursday for his advice of rights hearing. Judge Ross continued the matter to Friday morning to give Mr. Durrant’s public defender time to advise him.
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