Unita Alexander, aka “Ms. Poyo” of Estate Golden Rock, passed away Oct. 28. She was 87 years old.
Unita Alexander
She was preceded in death by her spouse, David Alexander aka Poyo; mother, Cecilia Scott; father, Gernald Caton; children, Randolf Alexander and Laurencia Charles.
She is survived by her daughters, Cynthia Scott-Tracey and Dalia Alexander Rachpaul; sons, Orson and Urick Alexander; grandchildren, Rodney, Sheldon, Sherwin, Shelly-Ann, Roger, Laverne, Lou Anne, Sally-Ann, Uricka, Ulissa, and Urick Jr.; great-grandchildren, Jamille, Jaydon, Kailey, Angel, Akeem, Tracey, Helen, Lawrence, Rosella, Samantha, Samuel, Aiden and Aaron; siblings, Godwin and Alwin George; daughters-in-law, Alicia and Isabella Alexander; brother-in-law, Michael Williams; sisters-in-law, Virginia Cudjoe, Rockell Clement and Janice George; godchildren, Terrence Victor, Steven Brookes and Pat Ali; special friends, Eleaner Chatman, Diana Kelly, Alexis James, Pamella Coggins, Jenalyn Handley, Janet and Dwight King, the St. Lous, the Pascalls and the Eastman family; other relatives, The Collins, Gleen, Lindor, Plentie, Hamilton, Acco,Parsons and John family; other relatives and friends too numerous to mention.
Funeral service will be held on Nov. 14 at Holy Cross Catholic Church. Viewing will begin at 9 a.m. with the service at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Kingshill Cemetery.
Professional services are entrusted to James Memorial Funeral Home, Inc.
Commissioner Jean-Pierre L. Oriol of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources announces new dates for the community cleanup event at Mandahl Bay, St.Thomas. The cleanup is now scheduled for Friday, Nov. 7 and Saturday, Nov. 8 from 8 a.m. – 5p.m.
This initiative is spearheaded by the Division of Territorial Parks and Protected Areas, which now oversees Mandahl Bay as part of the Virgin Islands Territorial Parks System.Debris in Mandahl Bay (Photo by DPNR)
The cleanup aims to restore and preserve the natural beauty of this cherished area.
Residents are kindly asked to remove any personal belongings from the site prior to the event. Contractors will be clearing debris from the roadside, beach, and pond surroundings. TPPA staff will be present throughout the weekend to assist and engage with community members.
Let’s come together to protect and revitalize Mandahl Bay for future generations!
For more information, please contact TPPA Director Kristina “Kitty” Edwards at kristina.edwards@dpnr.vi.gov.
The Virgin Islands Department of Education St. Croix District announces that all public high schools on St. Croix; St. Croix Educational Complex High School, St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, and St. Croix Central High School will resume their regular full-day instructional schedule effective Monday, Nov. 10.
St. Croix Educational Complex. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Following the completion of monitoring and performance testing by the Bureau of School Construction and Maintenance and the designated contractor, the newly installed air conditioning units have demonstrated full functionality with no electrical or load-related concerns. As a result, the temporary abbreviated schedule that was previously implemented will end on Friday, Nov. 7.
Faculty, staff, and students at the St. Croix Educational Complex High School, the St. Croix Career and Technical Education Center, and the St. Croix Central High School are advised to prepare for the transition back to full-day instruction beginning Monday, Nov. 10.
The St. Croix District appreciates the patience and cooperation of its school communities. Gratitude is also extended to the BSCM team, contractors, administrators, faculty, and staff for their collaborative efforts throughout this process.
Sen. Novelle Francis Jr. chairs the Senate Budget, Appropriations, and Finance Committee Tuesday. (Photo courtesy V.I. Legislature)
On Tuesday, the Senate Budget, Appropriations and Finance Committee advanced a 20-year lease for the St. John Taxi Services Corporation while holding a separate $400,000 funding measure for the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission.
Lawmakers debated both bills amid broader efforts to reform the territory’s taxi industry, focusing on equitable access, tourism impacts, and modernization of administrative systems.
The St. John Cruz Bay taxi stand has operated for years without a formal long-term lease, reportedly making it difficult for drivers to invest in upgrades or improve service. Bill No. 36-0092 would grant a 20-year lease to the St. John Taxi Services Corporation, which supporters said would provide stability and a path toward modernization of the stand.
“This bill, if passed, changes that. It provides a foundational legal framework needed to move forward, to build a proper dispatch booth, install signage, improve customer service and give the government better tools to regulate and oversee this important transportation hub,” said Sen. Angel L. Bolques Jr., the bill’s sponsor.
Supporters of the lease argued it would stabilize and improve operations for all local drivers. “We respectfully reiterate our request for the Legislature’s favorable consideration of the 20-year lease for the St. John taxi stand,” Sean L. Claxton, president of the St. John Taxi Services Corporation, testified. During the hearing, Claxton also assured lawmakers that independent drivers would not be excluded as long as they abided by the corporation’s rules.
Assistant Commissioner of Property and Procurement Vincent Richards also urged approval, saying the agreement would “support a local taxi operator group to sustain a much-needed and organized ground transportation operation on the island of St. John.”
Opposition to the bill was led by independent drivers and community members, who submitted a petition with more than 50 signatures objecting to the measure. Critics argued that granting control of the taxi stand to a single group could undermine its original purpose as a public facility, leading to higher fees for independents, new barriers to participation, and stricter operating requirements.
Several senators echoed those concerns, raising questions during the hearing about how to preserve nonmember access and ensure equal treatment for all drivers if the lease moves forward.
Lawmakers voted to advance Bill No. 36‑0092, approving the lease agreement for St. John. Sens. Marvin A. Blyden, Novelle E. Francis Jr., and Hubert L. Frederick voted in favor, while Sen. Ray Fonseca opposed. Sens. Dwayne M. DeGraff, Marise C. James, and Kurt A. Vialet were absent from the vote. The bill will now move to the Rules and Judiciary Committee for further consideration and action.
Bill No. 36-0045 would allocate $400,000 from the tourism advertising revolving fund to modernize the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission. The plan includes digitizing records, automating licensing, and improving oversight tools for more than 2,000 medallion owners and drivers. Supporters said long waits, slow service, and the risk of losing critical paperwork are common under the current paper-based system.
“It is, quite frankly, antiquated, and we do need the support of funding that would … move us forward in technology … It’s not even a luxury. It’s a necessity. It’s almost embarrassing that we operate in this decade with an antiquated system,” Executive Director Melissa Smith of the Virgin Islands Taxicab Commission testified.
Director Rupert O. Ross of the V.I. Bureau of Information Technology agreed, saying, “Modernizing the Taxicab Commission’s operation is essential for delivering efficient, transparent and reliable service to medallion owners, operators and the public.”
Finance officials urged caution, calling for a thorough review of available government funds before approving the appropriation. “We urge the committee to reconsider the $400,000 transfer and instead require the Taxicab Commission to document internal reforms, develop a staged pilot plan and pursue targeted user-line grant-based funding options,” said Maurice Wells, executive assistant commissioner of the Finance Department. Julio Rhymer Sr., director of the Office of Management and Budget, added, “We need time to reconcile this fund, to verify this $400,000 is possible.”
Francis, along with other senators, said the commission must fill key staff positions before moving forward with technology spending. “One concern for me is that our focus should really be on staffing up the commission … to be able to go out and do the enforcement and build the revenues. If there’s any priority, it should be staffing … more so than technological upgrades, even though those are necessary,” Francis said.
“Perhaps we could delay the implementation of this … until we complete a reconciliation of the account and make a decision while working on staffing,” said Francis, referring to the tourism advertising revolving fund, the proposed source for the modernization, to ensure the money is truly available before moving forward.
Bill No. 36‑0045, which sought to allocate $400,000 from the tourism advertising revolving fund for technological upgrades to the Virgin Islands Taxi Commission, was held in committee following a motion by Fonseca, seconded by Blyden. The motion was accepted without objection, keeping the measure on hold at the chair’s discretion.
Attendees listen during the Cannabis Compliance Summit at the Government House on St. Croix. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
The Office of Cannabis Regulation, operating under the Licensing and Consumer Affairs Department, hosted a Cannabis Compliance Summit Tuesday at Government House on St. Croix.
About 30 attendees attended the summit, which provided detailed guidance on licensing tiers, cultivation limits, taxation, and compliance requirements for potential cannabis operators.
Deputy Director Lyn-Marie McCarthy led the presentation, which served as a technical overview for prospective cultivators, manufacturers, and dispensary owners navigating the territory’s cannabis framework. Attendees were reminded that while policy questions remain under discussion, the summit’s purpose was to clarify operational rules already established under the Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act.
Deputy Director at the Office of Cannabis Regulation Lyn-Marie McCarthy speaks to attendees at a Cannabis Compliance Summit at the Government House on St. Croix. (Source photo by Diana Dias)
Officials explained that commercial cultivation licenses are divided into three tiers based on plant volume:
• Tier 1: 51 to 350 flowering plants and 201 to 1,200 immature plants.
• Tier 2: 351 to 650 flowering plants and 1,201 to 2,000 immature plants.
• Tier 3: 651 to 1,000 flowering plants and 2,001 to 3,000 immature plants.
Each tier must maintain at least the lower planting limit to ensure a consistent market supply. Cultivation must begin within six months of receiving a certificate to operate, and licensees are expected to notify OCR if unforeseen issues — such as weather or pest damage — affect production.
All cultivation facilities must demonstrate access to reliable power and water sources, maintain security measures that prevent public visibility of plants, and follow contamination-prevention protocols.
Dispensaries are the only entities permitted to sell cannabis directly to the public. They may sell to adult-use consumers, medical patients, and sacramental users but must collect an 18% sales tax and a $20 licensing fee per transaction.
Dispensaries must verify customer identification for each visit, maintain surveillance systems, and store cannabis in secure areas. Operating hours are limited to 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Sunday.
By law, dispensaries can sell no more than 30% of their own product inventory. At least 70% must come from third-party sources, with 15% specifically sourced from micro-cultivators. Exclusive supply agreements between dispensaries and cultivators are prohibited to ensure equitable market access.
Manufacturers may process, transport, and package cannabis products, including edibles, oils, and concentrates. Packaging must be opaque, child-resistant, and tamper-evident, and cannot resemble mainstream consumer goods or include cartoon imagery.
Labels must display the license number, THC content, production date, expiration date, usage instructions, and a QR code linking to the full laboratory analysis.
Edibles are capped at 100 milligrams of THC per package, with 10 milligrams per serving. Officials emphasized that products cannot make medical or health claims.
Testing facilities will play a central role in quality assurance, conducting safety and potency analyses for all marketable products. They may also engage in research and development but must destroy all plants used for experimentation upon completion.
Micro-cultivators are allowed to sell seeds and immature plants under 12 inches but may not sell flowering plants. These small-scale licensees are exempt from excise taxes but must comply with all reporting and tracking requirements through the territory’s Metrc system.
OCR representatives urged potential licensees to maintain open communication throughout the process. “Don’t wait until the last minute,” said McCarthy. “If you’re encountering delays with permits or utilities, reach out to OCR so we can work through it with you.”
OCR officials noted that continued outreach and training sessions will be held as the cannabis industry moves closer to full implementation in the Virgin Islands.
OCR has also begun releasing the names of applicants approved for Conditional Commercial Cannabis Cultivation Licenses as of Oct. 6. The submission deadline has officially closed, and no further applications are accepted.
The approved applicants met the merit-based threshold established under Section 777-12 of the Cannabis Rules and Regulations. Approved licenses are as follows:
St. Croix
· Virgin Herb LLLC (Total Score: 995)
· Virgin Cannabis Co., LLC (Total Score: 985)
· Alchemy Labs (Total Score: 975)
· Loud Bhang Farms LLC (Total Score: 940)
· The Harmony Collective (Total Score: 830)
· Shoys Growers (Total Score: 815)
· MDC Cultivation (Total Score: 740)
St. John
· TDD LLC (Total Score: 650)
St. Thomas
· Fyah Burn Production LLC (Total Score: 1,000)
· Nature Nurse VI Ltd. (Total Score: 1,000)
· Island Time Solutions LLC (Total Score: 840)
· Natural Mystic Solutions (Total Score: 720)
· Ras Bobby Herbal Products LLC (Total Score: 665)
For more OCR updates, visit the Office of Cannabis Regulation website.
WAPA Chief Financial Officer Lorraine Kelly, bottom left, and customer service director Marlene Francis, bottom right, address the V.I. Public Services Commission Tuesday. (Screenshot from YouTube broadcast)
Leadership from the V.I. Water and Power Authority Tuesday bristled at questions from the V.I. Public Services Commission after providing an update on the authority’s ongoing solicitation for a long-term supplier of liquefied petroleum gas.
The authority came under scrutiny last summer when its board approved a two-year fuel supply contract with the Puerto Rico-based Empire Gas outside of the normal solicitation process. The board voted to rescind the contract in August and a second request for proposals was issued in September. On Tuesday, WAPA contract administration manager Nicole Aubain said the authority received proposals from five companies and that an evaluation committee’s recommendation will be submitted for board approval in December.
The meeting came one month after PSC Vice Chair David Hughes, who was absent from Tuesday’s meeting, grilled WAPA leadership over the reissued RFP, citing concerns from a rejected vendor who reportedly thought some provisions in the original solicitation “indicated a substantial misunderstanding — by WAPA — on how fuel moves.” Responding to questions from PSC Chair Pedro Williams about that vendor, WAPA general counsel Dionne Sinclair said that “the vendor that’s been advocated for has submitted a proposal.”
Williams disputed the use of the word “advocated.” He later asked the utility to confidentially share the names of its evaluation committee members, prompting several minutes of back-and-forth before WAPA Chief Executive Karl Knight cut in.
“We are in the midst of a procurement process,” he said. “They’re trying to preserve the integrity of the procurement process. Your request is an unprecedented request of the authority in the midst of a procurement process. I do not reveal the identity of the evaluation committee until they submit their report, because I do not want individuals to compromise or attempt to compromise the folks who are doing this work.”
Knight added that the names of evaluators and their scores would be made available after the solicitation was complete and continued to question the commission’s intentions, asking if they intended to investigate evaluators for potential conflicts of interest. Sen. Carla Joseph, who sits on the PSC as an ex officio member, noted that conflicts of interest have happened before and said the commission’s request came from “a sense of transparency and a sense of building trust.”
“And when you’re building trust and you want to have that art — that fine art of transparency — you provide the information,” she said. “The back-and-forth is leading even to other persons, who are hearing this, to have a question about the trust … in confidentiality.”
Knight responded by asking commissioners if they were “aware that one of your members was openly advocating for one of the active participants in this RFP,” referencing Hughes. Williams said it depended on the definition of “advocating.”
“I think we’re all completely aware of the discussions with the vice chair and members of your team relative to a particular entity,” he said. “If you consider that ‘advocating for’ — again, that’s your definition of ‘advocating for,’ I don’t necessarily characterize it as such — if that is your concern, I hear the concern. And one of the things I ask is that you just submit the information to me alone, and I will handle it and maintain the confidentiality.”
The meeting moved on to hear testimony related to WAPA’s billing practices. The commission’s assistant executive director, Tisean Hendricks, shared a report outlining a “surge” in complaints tied to issues with electrical meters and the utility’s reliance on estimated billing.
“Some customers have reported that immediately following the installation of the new meter, inflated bills were received and, further, disputed,” she said, adding that the PSC received 35 complaints in the last year, which resulted in replaced meters. Since then, she said, 17 of those customers have complained about inflated bills.
WAPA Chief Financial Officer Lorraine Kelly and customer service director Marlene Francis acknowledged that the authority has had to estimate bills because of the territory’s failing advanced metering infrastructure. Francis explained that, where necessary, bills are estimated by taking the average of three months’ energy consumption. Kelly said that when a meter is replaced, “there’s one of two outcomes.”
“The bill is higher or the bill is lower,” she said. In the latter case, Kelly said WAPA credits the customer’s account. “However, on the flip side, if the estimate was lower than it should be, i.e., the actual read now says we underestimated the customer … by its nature, that does not mean it is wrong. It means that the estimate was lower, and now the actual read is indicating that we underbilled the customer.”
A man initially released on bail after a violent assault in June — and permitted by the court to leave the territory while the case was pending — is now charged with first-degree murder after the victim died of his injuries two months later.
Travis Lawrence, 36, is accused of attacking 76-year-old Denston Bacchus inside Bacchus’ Estate St. George home on June 15. Bacchus, who sustained severe head injuries, was medevaced to Florida for specialized care and died on Aug. 20. A forensic autopsy later confirmed his death was a homicide, according to police.
At the time of the assault, Lawrence faced charges including assault and aggravated battery. He was released on bail with permission from the Superior Court to leave St. Croix while the case proceeded, according to police and court filings.
Witnesses told investigators they heard Bacchus calling for help outside before discovering him injured. Police say Bacchus had allowed Lawrence inside his home to provide assistance when Lawrence allegedly locked the screen door behind him and began striking him repeatedly. Bacchus was transported to Juan F. Luis Hospital before being airlifted off-island.
After Bacchus’ death, the case was upgraded to a homicide investigation. A first-degree murder warrant was signed on Sept. 23, with bail set at $1 million, according to a VIPD arrest report. Lawrence surrendered on Nov. 3 at the Wilbur H. Francis Command with counsel.
The court again granted his release, authorizing him to return to Tampa, Florida, under 24-hour house arrest. The conditions do not include electronic monitoring, according to a Tuesday press release.
In addition to first-degree murder, Lawrence is now charged with: assault in the first degree, assault in the third degree, aggravated assault and battery, and mayhem.
Audience members at Muse on St. Thomas during the 2025 estate planning conference. (Screenshot from Zoom meeting)
Muse Meetings and Events on St. Thomas was almost filled, over 150 participants tuned in online, and many more attended at the University of the Virgin Islands on St. Croix to get informed on estate planning during the Economic Development Authority’s estate planning conference Tuesday.
“We’ve been doing this for fifteen or so years,” said Nadine Marchena Kean, the Enterprise Zone Commission’s managing director. She also highlighted that the last four years have been sponsored by a grant from the Department of the Interior.
Marchena Kean began the conference by spotlighting the pilot program for the EZC that assisted eight families with estate planning. According to the director, some participants experienced challenges that the commission used as a learning resource, and some were successful with the program.
“Some of them were really very simple issues. They needed to plan for their estate,” said Marchena Kean. “Others had major, deep, probate issues.”
Enterprise Zone Commission managing director, Nadine Marchena Kean addresses the audience in St. Thomas during the 2025 EDA estate planning conference. (Screenshot from Zoom meeting)
Vivian Ebbesen-Flood, one of the participants, shared her experience with the audience. The property that she acquired through the assistance of the pilot program was displayed in the booklet that was distributed to the participants. Ebbesen-Flood said she was “proud” to display property that her family now owns due to assistance from the estate planning program.
“Dirt has value,” Ebbesen-Flood said was something her father used to tell her. For persons interested in estate planning, she shared that, “Just mapping it out on paper, as to what you have in front of you, the web that’s there, and then you go from there in figuring out what else you need to do,” is the advice she can give.
After sharing gratitude for persons and organizations who assisted with the conference, and a short break for refreshments, Marchena Keans split participants into two breakout sessions. One session was on estate planning and the other, probate.
The session on trusts, estate planning, and probate avoidance was led by attorney Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy. She shared that she directs her clients on how to avoid the probate process. She also shared that she finds it disheartening for people, particularly in times of disaster, to be unable to receive disaster relief due to improper estate planning. Though she said a trust won’t always keep you out of probate, she credited having a trust as a good part of estate planning.
“A trust is basically just a contract. It’s letting everybody know who has access to your trust after you die, which is normally your trustee,” said Molyneaux-Molloy.
Attorney Karabo Molyneaux-Molloy speaks to participants about owning a trust during the EDA’s 2025 estate planning conference. (Screenshot from Zoom meeting)
A trust has four major elements, she said. A grantor or trustmaker, the successor trustees, beneficiaries, and a recorded deed. She added that wills are not a way to avoid probate. To keep a car out of probate, adding a beneficiary to car titles without car notes will do so. She said the beneficiary form can be found on the Bureau of Motor Vehicles’ website.
However, “if you’re driving your day to day car, you don’t want that in your trust,” said Molyneaux-Molloy.
Gifting deeds and owning LLCs were also topics discussed.
“When you have an LLC it has to be structured properly,” highlighted Molyneaux-Molly.
During the session, the attorney importantly noted to participants that they should pay attention to assets.
“People are complicated, the way that people inherit property is complicated, family is complicated,” said Molyneaux-Molloy. “Just because you’ve been paying this mortgage, and your names are on the building permits, and you love each other, it doesn’t mean that both of you are true owners of the property. You can be on a mortgage but not on a deed. You can be responsible for a note but not have any ownership.”
When asked how often one should update their estate planning, Molyneaux-Molloy said estate plans are typically reviewed every two years, but marriages, deaths, and big events are good times to review them. She also mentioned that trusts do not have to be filed in court.
Ending the session, Marchena Kean directed participants on how to navigate the EDA’s estate planning website, and demonstrated how to use an artificial intelligence tool created to assist with providing resources for estate planning.
“It’s information. This is something that will be available to you to start,” said Marchena Kean of the estate planning webpage. “We’ve tried to use every penny of the grant that we received to help the people of the Virgin Islands.”
At the end of the conference, participants appeared to be more informed about estate planning, with some eager to learn more. For more information about the estate planning conference, contact the USVI Economic Development Authority at 340-714-1700 for the St. Thomas- St. John office or 340-773-6499 for the St. Croix office.
The V.I.-based medevac team Trinity Ambulance Virgin Islands on its first Jamaica response mission. (Submitted photo)
The effort of Virgin Islanders to help the people of Jamaica recover from the damage wrought by Hurricane Melissa appeared to be gaining support one week after the massive storm made landfall.
From Miami on Tuesday, a St. Thomas tow truck operator who joined the response after the storm passed described the task of gathering resources to increase the flow of help coming from this U.S. territory.
Now, more than a week since disaster struck, more Virgin Islanders are offering support. A post on social media announced a donation drive at Barefoot Buddha — a Havensight eatery — that would be added to efforts sponsored by a regional tourism group.
Support is also mounting for a mission launched by Trinity Ambulance Virgin Islands, a fully-fledged air medical crew working with Jamaica Defense Force to perform emergency extractions from areas that suffered devastation from the storm over the course of five days. “I was willing to help the community, our own community and others,” Jose Trotman, a member of the team, said.
Trinity operations director Chis Watson commended Trotman and the rest of the team, adding that they have been continuously workint to medically evacuate residents in a cricitcal care capacity. The team returned to Florida on Monday as safety concerns mounted and supplies dwindled. From Ft. Lauderdale, Watson sought ways to return to the disaster zone while Trotman in Miami reached out for donations of medical supplies. Both V.I. volunteers described the scene on the ground in Jamaica as disorganized and chaotic. “I’m still here in Florida trying to get some more crew so we can head back down,” Trotman said.
That appeal, he said, reached several home-based first responders who said they were willing to join the mission. Trotman said he also heard from one of St. Thomas’ Rotary Clubs, asking how they could help.
“I heard from someone this morning from the Rotary Club on St. Thomas. They are willing to donate some money — I think it’s toward medical supplies; that’s a big need in Jamaica right now,” he said.
Tuesday also brought word from Watson, offering signs that the response in the disaster zone was getting better organized. On the first attempt, the V.I. team worked alongside regular military forces where medical evacuations were just a part of their wider mission.
Meanwhile, other V.I.-based relief efforts appear to be taking shape. From the office of Delegate to Congress, Stacey Plaskett issued a statement of solidarity.
“Throughout this crisis, I have kept Virgin Islanders informed about the storm’s impact on Jamaica, where many of our constituents have family and deep ties. As One Caribbean, we will stand with these communities as they rebuild,” Plaskett said.
Inquiries posed to Government House about any efforts toward Jamaica disaster relief they may know of have, so far, gone unanswered.
A 39-year-old woman, Lowayna Durant, was arrested Friday after an altercation inside The Market at Tutu Park Mall left a 72-year-old man, Patton Mulford, with an injury to his left ear requiring stitches, according to the Virgin Islands Police Department.
The incident occurred around 2:40 p.m. inside the grocery store. When officers arrived, Durant was still on scene and reported that the confrontation began as she was walking through an aisle checking her shopping list on her phone. She told police that Mulford approached and stood directly in front of her, telling her to move.
Durant said she believed she had given enough space and admitted to pushing his shopping cart aside, telling officers that the exchange became a face-to-face confrontation in which she felt threatened due to Mulford’s larger stature. She told police she acted in defense of herself, according to a Tuesday press release.
Mulford, who was transported by ambulance to Schneider Regional Medical Center, told officers that he believed Durant intentionally obstructed his path and that both of them refused to move. He said Durant forcefully pushed his shopping cart twice while he was still holding it, and then allegedly lunged and struck him with her fist and forearm. According to the report, Mulford told police that he fell backward into the store shelf, injuring his left ear. He received seven stitches, and officers documented what they described as a laceration resulting in partial disfigurement.
Officers later reviewed store surveillance footage and reported that the video showed Durant as the aggressor in the exchange. The investigation further noted the significant age difference between the two individuals — Mulford is 72, Durant 39 — and concluded that Durant’s actions caused the injury, the release said.
Durant was taken into custody and charged with assault in the third degree, mayhem, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, disturbance of the peace, and simple assault, police said. Bail was set at $25,000, and according to the report, Durant was unable to post bond. She was subsequently remanded to the Bureau of Corrections, pending her Advice of Rights hearing scheduled on Monday.
