A St. Croix student remains in custody after V.I. Superior Court Judge Jessica Gallivan denied two motions for his release on Thursday, setting bail at $25,000. Caleave Nigel Mascall Jr., 18, has been charged with third-degree assault following an attack on a school bus driver on Wednesday.
Mascall, along with two other students, allegedly beat the driver, causing injuries that required hospitalization. Mascall is also charged with damaging or tampering with a vehicle and disturbance of the peace. He was initially arrested after the incident Wednesday, and his bail was set at $25,000 pending his advice of rights hearing Thursday.
Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility on St. Croix.
The incident led to a suspension of all school bus services in the St. Croix district on Thursday, as drivers staged a job action in support of the assaulted driver. Bus workers, who expressed concerns about safety, have since agreed to return to work on Monday. Angela Erysthee, school bus manager for Abramson Enterprises Inc., stated that while the company didn’t officially back the job action, they stand behind their driver, adding, “We support our driver 100 percent.”
Erysthee explained that such an incident is unprecedented, although drivers have faced past challenges, such as students throwing bottles. She called for the installation of cameras on buses to improve safety and deter violence, emphasizing the need for a secure environment for both drivers and students.
The driver described as an older, long-time employee, sustained a concussion and multiple bruises and spent Wednesday night receiving emergency care, Erysthee said. While the court filing names the driver, the Source does not name surviving victims of violence.
Mascall appeared in court Thursday morning for an advice of rights hearing, where he was informed of his charges. Though a third-party custodian had been identified by the defense, Gallivan found the student posed a risk to the community and denied pre-trial release. Two other students involved in the incident, both minors, were arrested, booked, and released to their parents pending juvenile court proceedings. All three students attend St. Croix Central High School.
The attack, which was captured on video and circulated on social media, began after a verbal altercation between Mascall and the driver. The driver claimed the incident escalated after he reprimanded a student for using profanity. Mascall and two other students then allegedly began the physical assault, which left the driver on the ground as they punched and kicked him.
The Virgin Islands Education Department strongly condemned the attack, stating, “The students violently assaulted the bus driver, endangering not only his life but also the safety of other students on the bus.” The department is now working with Abramson Enterprises to assess the damage to the vehicle.
