Mugshot of Luis Angel Navarro. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Bail has been set for a man who used a wheelchair to pin a police officer to a hospital wall while handcuffed.
Luis Angel Navarro was arrested on Thursday after police responded to a report that a woman was being followed by a man carrying a gun. Officers were given a description of the man and subsequently located Navarro sitting on a concrete slab near the Department of Planning and Resources.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, upon noticing the officers approaching him, Navarro quickly stood up and a black magazine fell to the ground. He then took off running and police observed a black firearm fall from his waist. An officer deployed his service taser and one of the prongs connected with Navarro’s elbow. While one officer secured the dropped weapon another chased after Navarro on foot toward the area of the Hannah’s Rest intersection.
According to police, due to Navarro’s combative behavior and refusal to cooperate, they were unable to question him to determine if he had a license for the firearm. They were later able to determine that he is not licensed to carry a firearm. Navarro was eventually apprehended and placed under arrest.
An ambulance was called to transport him to the hospital for treatment and for a mandatory Covid-19 test. However, according to police, while Navarro was being placed in the ambulance he spat on the right side of a police officer’s head.
Later, while at the hospital the same officer observed Navarro leaning forward as if he was going to fall from the wheelchair. The officer placed her hand on Navarro’s chest to help bring him back up but he took the wheelchair he was sitting in and pinned the officer against the wall with it, pushing the chair into her stomach area.
According to the fact sheet, Navarro was in handcuffs during the incident. He then used his head to hit the officer on her forearm and stomach. According to the fact sheet, the officer struck Navarro and was eventually able to push him back into the wheelchair. After receiving medical attention he was transported to the police station where he refused to be booked and processed. He was subsequently transported to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility to await his advisement hearing.
Luis Navarro was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, unauthorized possession of ammunition, aggravated assault and battery upon an officer and disobeying the orders of a policeman.
He appeared before a judge on Monday and was informed that he would have to post a fully secured $50,000 bail to be released. If Navarro is able to make bail he will have to identify a suitable third-party custodian and will be subjected to a 24-hour house arrest.
