CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man faces domestic violence charges for allegedly threatening to kill an “acquaintace” by strangling her while he was inebriated, authorities said.
Matthew Gumbs, 27, was arrested and charged with second-degree assault-domestic violence, simple assault-domestic violence, grand larceny, and disturbance of the peace-domestic violence, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The case began at 4:00 p.m. on September 5, 2024, when the Domestic Violence Unit was alerted that an adult female victim was present at Richard Callwood Command alleging multiple disturbances by a former acquaintance named Matthew Gumbs, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Matthew Gumbs, 27, of St. Thomas.
“The victim stated Gumbs came to her residence on September 1, 2024, and appeared to be
intoxicated,” VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said. “He strangled her and threatened to kill her. She added that Gumbs also pushed her against a wall and pulled her by the hair.”
The victim also mentioned that on September 5, 2024, Gumbs came to her place of employment, took her cell phones and her purse without her permission, according to Chichester.
The unnamed victim said as she was leaving her neighborhood to travel to the police station, she spotted Gumbs following behind her in his vehicle, the VIPD spokeswoman said.
“He cut her off in traffic, leaving her no choice but to flee to a nearby store (for safety),” she said.
Gumbs surrendered to DVU officers at about 11:30 a.m. Tuesday. He was advised of his Miranda Rights and declined to give a statement. He was booked, processed.
No bail was offered to Gumbs in accordance with the territory’s domestic violence laws. He was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the St. Thomas jail.
Gumbs is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing in Superior Court.
This case is currently under active investigation by the Domestic Violence Unit. Anyone having
information about this crime can notify 911, the Domestic Violence Unit at 340-715-5535,
or the Office of the Police Chief.
