ST. THOMAS — A man who police say became violent after being denied more alcohol at a Havensight bar was arrested Friday night after allegedly throwing a beer bottle toward a bartender, pushing a security guard, pulling a knife on a patron and spitting on an off-duty police officer.
According to court documents, police were dispatched to a bar in the Havensight Shopping Center after receiving reports that an off-duty officer had been assaulted.
Officers first spoke with a bartender, who said she stopped serving William Mauk alcohol after the establishment’s security guard told her that Mauk was overly intoxicated.
According to police, Mauk became enraged by the bartender’s decision and threw a beer bottle in her direction. A patron told officers that he saw the bottle hit the ground behind the bar and immediately signaled to the security guard.
The guard told police that he confronted Mauk, who identified himself several times as a veteran of the Vietnam War while pushing the guard. The encounter escalated into a physical altercation, which was broken up by the same patron who had alerted security.
Mauk then reportedly pulled out a knife and approached the patron. The patron told police that he grabbed a bar stool and struck the advancing man with it, knocking him to the ground.
An off-duty police officer said he then approached Mauk and identified himself as an officer of the V.I. Police Department. Mauk reportedly responded by spitting twice on the officer’s leg. At that point, 911 was called.
Mauk was still at the bar when responding officers arrived. Police said they detected a strong odor of alcohol and urine coming from his body.
He was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, possession of a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence, first-degree reckless endangerment, throwing bodily fluid on an officer, and interfering with an officer.
Mauk was remanded into custody pending his advice of rights hearing, which was scheduled for Monday morning.
As of press time, the outcome of his first court appearance before Magistrate Julie Todman Smith had not yet been made public.
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