Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives on St. Croix arrested auxiliary police officer, 27-year-old Ismael M. Perez Jr. on Wednesday for allegedly assaulting a man near Salt River.
According to the initial police report, officers were dispatched to the Gov. Juan F. Luis Hospital and Medical Center to investigate an assault that occurred Tuesday near Salt River. The 40-year-old male victim allegedly told police that Perez punched and kicked him several times while he was at the marina, causing the victim to end up in the hospital due to his injuries.
Perez was arrested at about 7 p.m. and charged with first-degree assault. He was remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing at Superior Court. His bail was set at $75,000.
Perez has been employed with the V.I. Police Department since 2008 as an auxiliary police officer. He has been placed on leave without pay pending the outcome of his court proceedings.
The VIPD Internal Affairs Unit and Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives are following up on this case.
