July 16, 2002 – Police arrested a St. Thomas man Tuesday morning and charged him with dousing his ex-girlfriend with gasoline and setting her on fire.
Early Monday morning, an ambulance crew rushed the woman to Roy L. Schneider Hospital, where she was treated for second-degree burns on her back and other burns on her hands from trying to put out the flames, police spokeswoman Sgt. Annette Raimer said.
About 10 a.m. Tuesday, police arrested Desmond "Amaro" Wade, 48, of Solberg and charged him with first-degree assault with intent to kill, according to police records. The charge carries a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison.
The woman told investigators she came home to her apartment in North Star Village late Sunday night and was surprised to find Wade inside waiting for her. Wade is the woman's ex-boyfriend and had a key to her apartment, Raimer said.
Wade and the woman had a history of domestic violence in their relationship, and police had responded to a fight between the two earlier Sunday, Raimer said.
The woman told police that Wade doused her with gasoline from a can and set her clothes on fire, police records state.
He then fled the scene, but police were able to track him through his vehicle license plate number. Police arrested Wade on Tuesday morning when officers saw him getting into the parked car, Raimer said.
He was being held in lieu of $75,000 bail and was scheduled to advised of his rights in Territorial Court on Wednesday.
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