Mugshot of Hector Nieves, Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A man who allegedly beat another with a metal pipe is now facing felony assault charges, pending a psychiatric assessment.
According to court documents, last Wednesday morning at about 7:40 a.m., police were dispatched to a location in Estate Little Princess following reports of a disturbance in progress. Responding officers met a man who was being cared for by Emergency Medical Technicians.
The man had multiple lacerations to the back of his head, and in the lobby of the building police noted what looked like blood on the floor and walls. The injured man told officers that he had reported to work and shortly after he arrived, he saw Hector Nieves enter the building.
While punching in at the time clock, the man said he felt a sharp pain to the back of his head and looked back to see Nieves standing behind him, a metal pipe in his hands. Nieves then allegedly began to beat the man with the pipe, striking him to the back of his head and about his body, according to court documents. The man told officers that he and Nieves have had no prior arguments, but that he is aware that Nieves suffers from a chronic mental illness.
Nieves, who was still at the scene when police arrived, was detained and transported to the Ancilmo Marshall Command Police Station, where he declined to give a statement. He was then arrested and charged with third-degree assault.
In court on Friday, Magistrate Ernest Morris Jr., set bail at $25,000 with a 10 percent cash provision to secure his release. The magistrate also ordered a complete psychiatric examination and evaluation to be done by February 9. This evaluation will indicate whether Nieves is competent to stand trial.
The Division of Behavioral Health, Alcoholism and Drug Dependency Services in the Department of Health, which is the agency tasked with conducting the evaluation, has also been ordered to prepare a long-term treatment plan for Nieves if such is indicated by the examination and evaluation report.
The next court appearance for Nieves, a combined arraignment and status conference, is scheduled for February 21.
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