Mugshot of Stephen Grant. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS – A man is before the courts on multiple charges after his passenger during a collision in late July told police she believed the crash was intentional.
According to court documents, the single-vehicle collision occurred on July 26. Officers responding to the Hospital Gade crash found Stephen Grant sitting in the driver's seat of a car that had collided with the former Jarvis Building. Grant was reportedly holding an open container of beer, and waved officers away. “I don't need the police. Everything is okay,” he reportedly told them.
Emergency medical personnel then transported both Grant and his female passenger to the hospital for treatment. Police followed them there and noted the odor of alcohol on Grant's breath, and his red eyes. However, they did not take a statement due to the injuries sustained by Grant and his passenger.
A few days later, the women went to the Richard Callwood Command to provide a statement. She notified officers that the collision had caused blunt chest trauma, resulting in fractured rib. She recounted accepting a ride from Grant. After their first stop at T's Restaurant & Chicken Fry, Grant made another stop in the Alton and Welgunst area. The woman waited nearly an hour before Grant reportedly came back, assisted by another man. Her driver, although unable to stand on his own and appearing extremely intoxicated, ignored the woman's request to be taken home and continued to drive.
Grant reportedly made a third stop at a bar in Hospital Ground, returning from the establishment even more intoxicated. Once again, he reportedly ignored the woman's request to be taken home, according to the police report, and drove westbound on Hospital Line road.
The woman told police that as they passed the fish market, Grant suddenly accelerated towards the Jarvis building. The woman said she believed she was about to die and expressed uncertainty over whether Grant crashed the car deliberately in retaliation for her requests to be taken home.
Toxicology results showed that Grant's blood alcohol level was over three times the legal limit of .08%. “This level is consistent with severe impairment, and it exceeds the threshold commonly associated with alcohol posioning,” the police report indicates.
Grant was arrested and charged with attempted murder, first and third-degree assault, driving under the influence, driving with illegal blood alcohol, first degree reckless endangerment, and mayhem.
In court on Friday, Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull found probable cause to uphold all charges against Grant. Bail was set at $150,000, however Judge VanHolten-Turnbull allowed for the posting of 10% for Grant to secure his release ahead of trial. He must, however, report to the probation office twice a week in person while on bail. His passport and driver's license must be surrendered, and he will not be allowed to obtain new travel documents while the case is pending. Grant has also been ordered to abstain from alcohol or any controlled substance, and is banned from owning firearms, ammunition or any other dangerous weapon.
His next court appearance is scheduled for September 26.
Advertisements
