Marina Worker Arrested Over Machete Threat
A Crown Bay Marina groundskeeper, Ericson Hainrich, was arrested after an altercation in which he allegedly brandished a machete, pushed and assaulted a man. He faces multiple charges and was released on an unsecured bond with travel and contact restrictions pending further court action.
A groundskeeper at Crown Bay Marina in St. Thomas was arrested after an incident in which he allegedly punched, kicked and menaced a man with a machete, according to court records and reporting by Virgin Islands News Online. Police were summoned to the marina on Sunday morning after the alleged victim reported the assault.
The man told officers that while he was walking through the marina, the groundskeeper, identified as Ericson Hainrich, rode up in a golf cart, told him he could not traverse the area, then approached brandishing a machete and pushed him into a grassy area. The victim recorded part of the altercation on his phone and shared the video with police.
Officers said the footage captured Hainrich holding the machete and issuing threats, and the complainant accusing Hainrich of kicking him. The video, however, did not show the alleged strike. When questioned by police, Hainrich admitted to pushing the man and told officers he and the complainant had prior confrontations.
He also claimed that during an earlier encounter he had found the man defecating and urinating at the rear of the marina. Hainrich acknowledged he had not filed any formal complaints with marina security, the V.I. Port Authority, or with police regarding those incidents. Hainrich was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, simple assault and disturbance of the peace.
He was initially unable to post the $25,000 bail and was remanded into custody pending an advice of rights hearing. At a court appearance on Monday, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis found probable cause to uphold the charges and allowed Hainrich to be released on an unsecured bond. The magistrate imposed several conditions: he is barred from leaving the jurisdiction while the case is pending, must have no unlawful contact with the alleged victim, must call the probation office weekly, and is prohibited from using alcohol or controlled substances or possessing firearms, ammunition or any dangerous weapons during the proceedings.
His next court date is scheduled for November 7. The case underscores concerns about safety and dispute resolution at marinas, which serve as key transit and commerce points between the U.S. and British Virgin Islands. BVI residents who travel to or work in neighboring USVI marinas should be aware of local reporting channels — including marina security, the V.I.
Port Authority and police — and are encouraged to report incidents promptly. The matter remains before the courts and the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Primary source: VINO