ST. THOMAS — A woman is facing domestic violence assault charges after reportedly admitting to pepper spraying her minor son.
According to court documents, the boy came to her on Sunday, Cecilia Andrew told police. She was just about to take a nap when he knocked on her bedroom door, asking for his social security card.
Ms. Andrew said her son told her it was to apply for a job. He didn’t tell her what the job was. When she suggested that he use the copy of the card he had, he insisted that he needed the original document. The mother offered to deliver the card to her son’s employer herself, but he again declined, asking her to hand over his social security card so he could take care of it himself.
Ms. Andrew told officers that she told her son he would receive everything that belongs to him when he turned 18. At that, she claimed that he became furious. He wedged open the bedroom door with his foot and refused to allow her to close it, she said. The mother said she took pepper spray from her bag and used it on her son, his recoil giving her an opportunity to close the door. Ms. Andrew claimed that the boy burst through the door, causing it to hit her in the head, briefly losing consciousness.
The disturbance became physical, said the mother, accusing her son of grabbing and fighting with her, and of scattering her belongings around the room. She says she attempted to call police during the incident, as well as her daughter, but was challenged by the device’s low battery level. Ms. Andrew says that she was able at some point to run to her vehicle, where she charged the phone and placed the calls.
The woman’s son told police that he didn’t tell his mother about the job application previously, and felt uncomfortable sharing information about it with her when she asked. He didn’t want her coming down with the card either, he told officers. He was already hired, he just needed the original social security card to present to his new employers, and then he would return it, the minor said to police.
He wedged his foot in the door to continue being able to plead his case, he said. At first, he said, when his mother reached into her bag and pulled out the pepper spray he did not believe she would actually use it on him, but lowered his head and closed his eyes instinctively. When Ms. Andrew told him to move a final time, her son said he just repeated his request for the card, raising his head cautiously while keeping his eyes closed. He told police that she blasted him in the face, arms, legs, and private area. The boy said that he pushed the door towards her and ran for the shower to rinse himself off.
Still in pain, the boy reportedly returned to find his mother coughing, apparently also affected by the spray. He admitted to taunting her while she retreated to her room, yelling in her face and throwing items around, while still demanding his social security card. When her son left the room to retrieve something to wipe his face, Ms. Andrew reportedly tried to close the door, but he forced it open again, finding her on the phone with his sister. When he tried to explain his side of the story, his mother hung up abruptly, the boy said.
Investigating officers found that Ms. Andrew’s bedroom door was intact, and could observe no visible injuries to her head. None of the belongings within the home were damaged. They were unable to locate the pepper spray’s internal canister, however. The son told them that at one point, he and his mother were tussling over her handbag, as he was afraid of being sprayed again. He noticed the pepper spray on the floor, grabbed it, and threw it through the sliding door onto the porch, he told police.
Ms. Andrew was ultimately arrested and charged with second-degree assault and disturbance of the peace, both as acts of domestic violence. She was remanded into custody to await her advice of rights hearing on April 7.
In court on Monday, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis found probable cause to uphold all charges against Ms. Andrew. Bail was maintained at $1000 to be paid in full before she can be released. Once out of custody, Ms. Andrew will not be allowed to travel outside of the St. Thomas/St. John/Water Island district without the court’s written approval. Unlawful contact with the victim or witnesses is also prohibited. Additionally, she must also check in with the probation office by telephone each week.
The next court appearance for Ms. Andrew is scheduled for April 25.
British Caribbean News