Two men are before the V.I. Superior Court on assault and other felony charges stemming from a late April altercation at a St. Thomas gas station.
The incident occurred in the wee hours of April 28 at the Race Track Gas Station near Alton Adams Drive. Police were dispatched to the area after receiving reports of an assault.
Responding officers found David Fredericks bleeding heavily from the face. Another man, they soon learned, had presented himself at the Schneider Regional Medical Center emergency room with multiple stab wounds.
While still at the gas station, officers spoke to the security guard, who told them that the second man – Khaleem Rieara – had come in asking to use his phone. He was allowed to do so, but when the conversation became loud he was asked to step outside to finish his call.
The call continued outside, with Rieara still yelling on the phone. Fredericks reportedly exited his parked vehicle, approached the irate man and told him to calm down, an intervention that was not appreciated. The contact started a verbal altercation, which the security guard said he tried to defuse by asking Fredericks get back into his vehicle and leave Rieara alone.
Fredericks reportedly declined to heed the request of the security guard and instead initiated what the police report referred to as a “stare off” with Rieara.
Rieara eventually returned the phone to the security guard, purchased a beer from the gas station, and left the establishment, where he was again reportedly confronted by Fredericks. This time, the altercation became physical. Fredericks allegedly used a small black knife to stab Rieara several times, including in the neck. Rieara eventually overpowered Fredericks and disarmed him. He followed up with several punches which landed on Fredericks’ face. With the other man dazed from the blows, Rieara then allegedly ripped off his opponent’s jewelry, took the knife, and left the area.
The security guard said he helped Fredericks to his feet, put him in his vehicle, and called the authorities for help.
Police traveled to the hospital, where a nurse told them that Rieara had to be rushed to the operating room. Among his belongings were two gold neck chains and a gold chain bracelet, which officers collected as evidence.
Fredericks was arrested and charged with first-degree assault, third-degree assault, disturbance of the peace, mayhem, using a deadly weapon, use of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime, and second-degree reckless endangerment.
He appeared in court on April 29, where probable cause was found to uphold all charges against him. Magistrate Paula Norkaitis set bail at $50,000, but allowed Fredericks to post 10% of that sum to secure his release ahead of trial. He must now abide by a daily curfew between midnight and 7:00 a.m., and has been ordered to stay at least 100 feet away from Rieara at all times.
After arresting Fredericks, police continued to investigate. They reviewed surveillance footage from the gas station, which reportedly corroborated the sequence of events described by the security guard. The footage also confirmed to police that Fredericks was wearing two chains around his neck, and a chain bracelet on his left wrist. The jewelry, officers say, closely matched the items retrieved from Rieara’s belongings at the hospital.
On May 5, Fredericks turned up at the Richard Callwood Command police station to make inquiries about his missing jewelry. He reportedly showed officers video evidence of him wearing the items, confirming his ownership.
By the morning of May 6, Riera had been discharged from the hospital. Police located him at the Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing community and transported him to the Investigation Bureau. He told officers that he had little recollection of the events of April 28, partly due to the anesthesia he had received while undergoing treatment at the hospital. Other people told him what had transpired that day, he said. He was then arrested and charged with grand larceny, simple assault, possession of stolen property, and disturbance of the peace.
Rieara appeared before Magistrate Paula Norkaitis on Wednesday for his advice of rights hearing. The judge upheld all charges against him, and set bail at $20,000, allowing him to post 10% of that sum to secure his release ahead of trial. Like Fredericks, Rieara must comply with a midnight to 7 a.m. curfew each day, and must also ensure that he stays a minimum of 100 feet away from Fredericks at all times.
Fredericks is scheduled to be arraigned on May 16, while Mr. Rieara will be back in court the following Friday, May 23.
British Caribbean News
