Man bites deputy and assaults another officer

By Linda Cicoira

Last summer, a Mappsville man who was high on PCP, a hallucinogenic also known as angel dust that can cause psychotic behavior, bit one officer while she attempted to handcuff him and assaulted another policeman.

Twenty-two-year-old Bryan Velasquez pleaded guilty Thursday in Accomack Circuit Court to unlawfully wounding Deputy A. Clark and assault and battery of Cpl. S. Henning, both of the county sheriff’s office.

Velasquez communicated with the court through a Spanish interpreter. He was said to have spoken some English to the officers and appeared to understand some of what was said during the proceeding before the words were translated.

Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney William Fox said officers were called to a house on Lankford Highway in Mappsville on Aug. 16, 2024, for a complaint about Velasquez attempting to bite several people there.

When the officers arrived at about 3:30 a.m., they found the defendant to be agitated and under the influence of drugs. He “was on the floor crying and growling,” Fox said. After making threats, Henning went to arrest the defendant, who attempted to bite the officer’s thigh and right arm. When Henning pinned him to the floor, Clark tried to handcuff Velasquez.

The defendant bit her on the hand, continued to resist, and spit blood, the prosecutor said. “Rescue had to be called to sedate him,” Fox added.

A short-form presentence report was ordered. Sentencing was set for May 1.

In another case, 28-year-old Antoine Mohammad Beverley, of Carter Street in Onancock, was sentenced to five years in prison with all but two years suspended for possessing ammunition after being convicted of a felony in connection with a June 2023 incident.

The defendant has already served nine months in jail. Upon release, Beverley will be on supervised probation for two years and on good behavior for five years.

Fox said that during a police pursuit, the defendant was seen throwing a bag containing ammunition out of the car window. Two others were inside the vehicle. They exited the car, ran, and were never apprehended. Beverly denied knowing them. He said he had only picked them up and given them a ride.