Racial tensions are rising in Anguilla since a financial adviser for UBS, Gavin Scott Hapgood of Connecticut, was freed on bail after being arrested for manslaughter of a local man in his luxury hotel room.
According to Anguillan reporting, Dominican-born Kenny Mitchel, a maintenance worker at the five-star hotel, was called to Hapgood’s room at 4 p.m. on April 13 and a fight ensued, ending in Mitchel’s death “due to prone restraint, positional asphyxia and blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso,” the death certificate said.
Police say Hapgood’s two young daughters were in the room at the time.
Hapgood was released on $74,000 bail and returned home to Darien, Conn., sparking local outrage that he got special dispensation as a wealthy tourist.
The chief minister of Anguilla called for calm and faith in the justice system, “even when we are justifiably outraged or emotionally distressed.”
He added “many of the comments . . . posted on social media and the utterances on some broadcast media can give the impression that our anger goes beyond the accused and seeks to attack a wider group,” meaning tourists.
Hapgood couldn’t be reached, but his attorney said, “He has every intention to return to Anguilla to clear his name.”
He is expected at an Aug. 22 hearing.