John McCarthy
By: Virgin Islands Free Press News Desk
CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix woman’s plea for emergency medical intervention for her mentally ill adult son ended in his arrest Wednesday evening, shedding light on a history of repeated emergency responses and systemic challenges surrounding mental health calls in the territory.
Stephen Gonzalez was arrested and charged with Destruction of Property (Domestic Violence) following an incident at a residence in Estate Strawberry.
Emergency Response in Strawberry
According to a sworn Probable Cause Fact Sheet filed in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands, VIPD officers responded to 213 Strawberry at approximately 6:25 p.m. on August 5, 2026, following a 911 call from Mary Gonzalez requesting assistance with her son.
The reporting officer noted that Ms. Gonzalez stated her adult son, who was diagnosed at age 18 with psychosis, autism, and intellectual disabilities, was experiencing an acute behavioral crisis. Ms. Gonzalez reported that her son ran around the yard, ignored commands, and smashed an electric lamp on the ground before throwing ceramic shards into a neighboring property. Family members attempted to intervene but were unable to control him.
Responding officers observed a destroyed lamp and ceramic shards at the scene.
Prior Medical Evaluation and Hospital Incidents
Court documents reveal that police had already been dispatched to the same residence earlier that afternoon at 12:12 p.m. for a separate emergency call. During that initial response, officers observed family members physically restraining Gonzalez, who appeared disoriented and detached from reality.
Officers transported Gonzalez to the Governor Juan F. Luis Hospital (JFL) for a medical evaluation. Upon arrival at the emergency room, Gonzalez became combative, requiring approximately six security personnel, hospital police, and medical staff to physically restrain him. Despite receiving medication, he was subsequently discharged later that afternoon.
The probable cause statement further noted that VIPD records reflect a long documented history of emergency calls for service to the Strawberry residence spanning from 2024 through 2026 involving mental health crises and requests for police transport.
Remanded Without Bail
Following his arrest on the domestic violence charge later Wednesday evening, Gonzalez was transported to the Police Operations and Administrative Building for booking and processing.
Under Virgin Islands domestic violence law, no bail was set. Gonzalez was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending his Advice of Rights hearing scheduled for Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 9:00 a.m. in the Superior Court.
