ST. CROIX — A man was arrested Tuesday after he was reported to police by an ex-girlfriend for strangling her, V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte has announced.
Mr. Dratte said the 911 emergency call center received notification of the incident at approximately 11:59 a.m., which occurred at the Lagoon Housing Complex in Frederiksted.
The victim told police that her ex-boyfriend, 29-year-old Shawki Thomas, came to her apartment to retrieve his personal belongings. But while collecting his items, Mr. Thomas became enraged when the victim confirmed that the relationship was over, according to Mr. Dratte.
She said Mr. Thomas then held her down on a couch and started choking her. He then ripped off her necklace and forcefully took her phone away, according to the police report. The female victim sustained injuries as a result of the assault, Mr. Dratte said.
Mr. Thomas, who police say admitted to struggling with the female victim for her cellphone, was charged with second-degree assault and grand larceny, and was remanded to the Golden Grove Correctional Facility pending his advisement hearing.
No bail was granted because of the nature of the crime.