Mugshot of Matthew Gumbs. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A male dump truck driver who was allegedly obstructing traffic in Estate Tutu was arrested Thursday for allegedly striking a female driver with a rock after he noticed she was recording him on her cellphone.
The dump truck driver, Matthew Gumbs, 24, appeared before Magistrate Judge Henry Carr, III via teleconference while in the custody of the Bureau of Corrections for his advisement hearing on Friday. He was represented by Attorney Frederick Johnson of the Office of the Territorial Public Defender.
Gumbs was charged with third-degree assault, simple assault, failure to produce registration, and failure to keep current insurance.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, Gumbs said he parked the dump truck in the roadway because it was being filled with dirt from a property just above the roadway. When the victim drove up the roadway, according to her statement to police, she observed a dump truck that did not allow for her vehicle to get around it. When she asked Gumbs to move the truck, he replied, “I am not moving no [expletive] truck. I am not moving no truck you [expletive]. I am not moving no truck.”
The victim then proceeded to call 911 and informed Gumbs that if he didn’t move the truck, he could wait until police arrive. He then told her, “You need to move your car,” and he got in his truck, accelerated his engine, and drove in front of her vehicle, the fact sheet said. At that point, the victim began recording the incident on her cellphone, which heightened Gumbs' anger.
He then got out of his truck, picked up a rock, approached the victim’s vehicle, opened the driver’s door and struck her on the right wrist and forearm with the rock. He also swung at her from the passenger’s side but did not hit her. Several bystanders came to her rescue and escorted Gumbs away from her vehicle. Gumbs admitted to picking up a rock but denied any physical altercation with the alleged victim, according to the fact sheet.
Other drivers in the vicinity reported having to wait in their vehicles for up to an hour for Gumbs to move the truck so they could return home, the fact sheet said.
Based on the facts of the case, the prosecuting attorney John Barraco said, “I believe the defendant is a danger to the community.” Barraco continued, “It’s really unclear what would really prompt this type of assaultive behavior especially during the course of his employment which he is likely to go back to. I think the community at large is at risk.”
In addition to the assault upon the female driver that resulted in an abrasion on the outer right hand, Gumbs was driving a dump truck with expired insurance and registration documents that was registered in someone else’s name.
The judge ordered the following release conditions:
- Bail was reduced from $25,000 to $2,500 (with the provision to post 10 percent or $250)
- No contact with the alleged victim
- Travel restriction requiring prior permission from the court and signing of a waiver of extradition
- Surrender passport and V.I. driver’s license (not suspending driving privileges)
- Do not do anything that would impede the free flow of traffic by pedestrians or drivers while driving a dump truck
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