Man “Harassing” Minor on Ferry Jailed, Charged with Disturbance of the Peace and Vagrancy

CORAL BAY — Albert Henry Guzman, 23, was still being held unable to post $10,000 bail after being placed under arrest and charged with Disturbance of the Peace and Vagrancy on April 14 in connection with an incident involving inappropriate contact with St. John child that occurred on the VITRAN St. John ferry and a VITRAN bus on Monday, April 13.

Guzman, who authorities said is from Texas and may be homeless, was arrested on Tuesday night after witnesses reported his behavior. He remained in jail on Friday unable to post $10,000 bail set by the court.

Guzman, reportedly from Texas, had been positively identified by a witness as the individual who was harassing and disturbing the peace of a minor who was riding from St. Thomas on the St. John Ferry with three siblings and an escort. Witnesses told police that Guzman followed one particular child onto the VITRAN public bus, according to a VIPD release.

Witnesses Observe Behavior
Guzman invited the minor to play video games at his house and continued to speak to the minor even though he was being ignored, according to a VIPD press release on the preliminary investigation.  Several citizens observed Guzman’s behavior, according to the VIPD statement. 

The minor had no knowledge of who Guzman was and other riders removed him off the bus, according to the VIPD release.

“He told the kids that he was taking them home as well,” the children’s mother wrote on Facebook on the day Guzman was arrested. “Thankfully for the community and my family, a bunch of gentlemen got together as they noticed what was going on and made the man exit the bus.”

“By the time my sitter and kids got home, the police had already been called and they were able to make a statement,” the mother added.

Guzman was charged with Disturbance of the Peace and Vagrancy, with bail set at $1,000. Unable to post bail, Guzman was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections, pending his Advise of Rights Hearing.  On Wednesday, April 15, Guzman appeared before V.I. Superior Court Magistrate Carolyn Hermon-Purcell who increased his bail to a $10,000 cash bond.

This case is presently under investigation by the Investigation Bureau.