Mugshot of Clairmont Sackey. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man is facing felony charges of assault and mayhem after a vicious machete attack on his sister and her husband.
According to court documents, Clairmont Sackey called 911 last Thursday afternoon, reporting that someone was trying to break into his home in Estate LaGrange. He identified the intruders as his sister and brother-in-law, told the 911 dispatcher that he was armed with a machete, and said that he intended to kill them.
Responding officers arriving on the scene noted what appeared to be multiple trails of blood on the walkway leading to the residence. The male victim was taken to the hospital by ambulance, while police spoke to Mr. Sackey's sister.
She explained that she and her siblings share responsibility for the residence, which originally belonged to their mother. During her last visit, she advised one of her siblings, a sister, that if a certain screen door was locked when she returned, she would break the lock to gain entry, as no one appeared to have a key. This comment suggests possible tension among the siblings regarding access and authority over their mother's home.
When the woman and her husband returned to the house last Thursday afternoon, they found the screen door locked. The woman told police she used a hammer to break the lock, allowing her husband to open the front door with a key. On the other side, her brother, Sackey, was reportedly blocking the door, attempting to keep it closed. As they tried to enter, the woman saw that her brother was holding a long, rusty machete. Sackey allegedly began swinging the weapon and threatened to kill his sister and her husband, ultimately striking the husband on his face, arms, and back.
Sackey's sister told officers she ducked when he swung a blow in her direction, initially reporting that she hadn’t been injured. However, police observed what appeared to be blood on her dress, as well as on her back, arms, and neck. Later, when speaking with officers at the hospital, she mentioned she hadn’t realized she had been struck. She was found to have a long scratch on her upper right arm.
In the Juan F. Louis hospital emergency room, the woman's husband was being treated for what police called “an egregious injury” to his bottom lip, for which doctors advised he would need plastic surgery to repair. He also bore two lacerations in his left forearm and told police that he was unable to move his left pinky finger, something doctors advised is possible result of a ruptured tendon. The husband corroborated his wife's recounting of events, saying that he was threatened with death every time Sackey swung the machete.
The alleged aggressor, who had been detained following police's arrival at the residence, was taken to the police station and agreed to provide a statement. He did not dispute the narrative of events established by his sister and her husband, and admitted to attacking them after they tried to access the home. According to police, Sackey said he was old and had to defend himself, saying that he used a hammer in the incident.
Clairmont Sackey was arrested and charged with first and third degree assault, mayhem, and possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence. Unable to pay bail of $75,000 as initially set, he was remanded into custody to await his advice of rights hearing.
In court on Friday, Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross found probable cause to uphold all charges against Sackey, and ordered bail to be reduced to $15,000. A thousand dollars of that amount must be paid in cash for Sackey to secure his release, with the remainder signed as an unsecured bond by himself and his third party custodians.
His next court appearance is scheduled for November 13.
