The alleged assault by a police officer of a vacation rental property employee on St. John and the implication of a second officer in the case will be addressed at a press conference at 2 p.m. Friday in the Farrelly Criminal Justice Complex on St. Thomas, the head of the St. Thomas- St. John district Police Benevolent Association said Thursday.
Association president Elroy Raymo made the comment with regard to a disciplinary hearing for the two officers before Police Chief Jose Garcia on Thursday that reportedly lasted from around 11 a.m. until the end of the day. The two St. John officers were the subjects of the hearing following a preliminary investigation by the island's Zone D commander, Lt. Rene Garcia. Kelly Giggenbach, an employee of Caribbean Villas, told police an off-duty officer confronted her near the Cruz Bay dock on March 18 in connection with a dispute she was having with taxi drivers over a parking space. The officer then reportedly grabbed her by the breast and slammed her against a vehicle repeatedly in view of numerous persons in the area.The officer was subsequently brought up on disciplinary charges, along with the second officer, whose involvement has not been made clear.
Published media reports have identified the officer who allegedly accosted Giggenbach as Eugene Somersall and the second officer implicated as Lorraine Sprauve. Police have not publicly named those under investigation.
Deputy Police Chief Theodore Carty said Thursday that several witnesses appeared during the course of the proceedings. Police Commissioner Franz Christian said the results of the hearing would be disclosed upon conclusion. Around 7 p.m. Thursday, Raymo said a conclusion had been reached, but he would give no details on the results. He said the hearing would be one of the subjects addressed at the press conference at the Zone A Police Command in the Criminal Justice Complex.
