Mugshot of Clement A. Connor. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A man on St. Thomas allegedly pointed his gun at his former intimate partner as she was departing from moving items from his residence. The suspect said he assumed his house was being burglarized and called 911 stating the same.
Clement A. Connor, 44, appeared before Magistrate Judge Carolyn Hermon-Percell via teleconference from the Bureau of Corrections on Monday for his advisement hearing.
Connor was charged with third-degree assault (use of a deadly weapon) as an act of domestic violence, and using a dangerous weapon during a crime of violence.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, Connor called police reporting that his home was being burglarized when he was returning to his residence on Friday, August 20. One of the people present was a police officer, who was attempting to get her hair done by Connor’s former domestic partner at the location. Adjacent to Connor’s residence is a hairdressing salon where the former partner worked.
Officer Sherrill Brunn’s testified before the court that the following alleged events took place sometime after 6 pm.
On that evening, the victim was at Connor’s residence removing some personal items. She used her key to the residence and had prior permission from Connor to remove the items. The victim was attempting to leave with a mirror and large dresser. This was one of many trips she made to the residence that day. When the victim, the police officer, and two men helping with the move were leaving the residence, Connor arrived and blocked the victim’s truck, the fact sheet said.
The fact sheet explained that the victim observed that Connor exited his vehicle and walked back to her truck, asking what was going on. He then went back to his vehicle and retrieved his licensed firearm and placed a magazine inside. He then walked back to the victim’s truck, pointed the gun at her and made threats to harm her. The fact sheet does not say what Connor said. The victim also stated that Connor was waiving his gun around in his hand. According to findings of the officer’s investigation stated in the fact sheet, Connor did not realize it was his former domestic partner until he made contact with the truck. Officer Brunn even testified that he knew the truck to be that of the victim.
When one of the moving men came to find out what was going on, Connor pointed the gun at him and told him that he needed to get back, to which the mover raised his hands in the air and walked away from the vehicle. At that point, the victim called 911 for assistance, the fact sheet said.
Connor’s representation, Attorney Clive Rivers, argued that it was reasonable for Connor to call the police as he saw people leaving his residence with his items. “It appears that he had already removed his firearm. He recognized that somebody was removing stuff from his place, and then, he recognized it was his [former domestic partner]. I don’t see anything extra unreasonable with what he did in this instance,” argued Attorney Rivers. He continued, “This is nothing more than Mr. Connor seeing stuff being removed from his house. He blocked the area to ascertain what it was. He realized it was his [former domestic partner].”
Prosecuting Attorney John Barraco countered, “It sounds like Attorney Rivers is saying that the defendant was acting in self-defense and that’s why he drew a weapon and pointed [it] at the victim... I think it’s very clear on the [probable cause] fact sheet that the officer has provided a statement in the [probable cause] fact sheet that satisfies probable cause for third-degree assault. To the extent that he’s saying that it’s reasonable to draw a weapon and point it at somebody because they have a mirror that belongs to you, or you think belongs to you, in the back of their truck is quite absurd."
Considering both arguments made by counsel, Judge Hermon-Percell ordered the following release conditions:
- Bail at $15,000 (post 5 percent or $750)
- Prohibited from leaving the STT-STJ jurisdiction without prior permission of the court
- Not possess firearms or ammunition
- No contact with the victims
- Maintain minimum distance of 10 feet from all victims
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