‘Midnight Creeper’ Arrested For Putting Knife To Woman’s Head In Home Invasion

KINGSHILL — A St. Croix man with a history of home invasions has been arrested for putting a knife to a woman’s head during a late night home invasion, authorities said.

Manuel Perez, 21, of Old Fredensborg, was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary and destruction of property, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.

VIPD mugshot of Manuel Perez, 21, of Old Fredensborg in St. Croix.

A female victim reported that she woke up to use the restroom and heard an unusual noise in the living room on June 11, according to the VIPD.

“The victim stated that after making a check in the living room, a shadow was observed by the glass door,” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said. “Further inspection into the noise resulted in her observing Manuel Perez tampering with her living room window.”   

The victim began screaming and Perez ran away on foot in a northern direction from the apartment (Candido Guadalupe Housing), according to Dratte.

“The victim identified Perez as breaking into her home the previous month, stealing her gold chains, and assaulting her with a knife to her head,” the police spokesman said.

An arrest warrant was signed by Superior Court Magistrate Judge Ernest E. Morris.

Bail for Perez was set the bail at $75,000.00. The suspect was already incarcerated at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility on other charges and was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearing on Monday.  

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