Mugshot of Anthony Schneider. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man in custody at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility faces new charges after allegedly stabbing another detainee with a pocket knife.
Last Friday afternoon, lunch was being distributed at the prison on St. Croix when a correctional officer noticed Anthony Schneider, in custody awaiting trial for the murders of Stacie Schjang and Arnold Jarvis. Schneider had slipped between the other detainees and out of the inner sally port. When the officer saw Schneider walking briskly towards the outer sally port door, he tried to call him back inside the unit, but Schneider reportedly ran past another correctional officer out onto the outer walkway.
Due to the congestion caused by the meal distribution, the first officer had to take a detour to the outer walkway, and once she arrived, she noticed the second correctional officer “on top of” Schneider, according to documents submitted to the court. The first correctional officer grabbed the radio off the second officer’s belt and called for assistance.
Schneider reportedly ran past the second correctional officer when he spotted another inmate, who was being escorted from lockdown to the educational unit. As he approached his target, Schneider reportedly swung at the man with a knife, an attack to which the other detainee responded, similarly armed.
Correctional officers were able to subdue the two men, and retrieved a black pocket knife from the ground which reportedly came from Schneider. Upon observing injuries to the other detainee, officers took him first to the prison’s medical bay, and then onwards to the Juan F. Luis hospital for further treatment. There, a CT scan reportedly picked up the image of a knife that the second inmate had secreted near his groin area. Officers confiscated that knife as well.
The inmate who Schneider targeted in the attack reportedly received a stab wound to his left flank area, and a laceration to his right thumb, while the two correctional officers involved in quelling the knife fight received various lacerations to their arms and wrists. Both sought medical attention.
A review of the video surveillance at the facility showed that cameras captured the altercation “from its inception to its conclusion.” Ultimately, Schneider was charged with third-degree assault, aggravated assault and battery, brandishing, exhibiting or using a deadly weapon, and promoting dangerous prison contraband.
In court on Monday, Schneider was granted bail in the sum of $25,000, fully secured. Even if he is able to meet these conditions, his continued detention is likely, given his ongoing inability to meet release conditions for his pending matter, which involves charges of first-degree murder.
Schneider’s next court appearance on the new charges is scheduled for November 22.
Advertisements
