Mugshot of Jamari Gardener By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man has been ordered to stay away from his girlfriend after he allegedly assaulted her during a dispute.
Jamari Gardener, age 20, is charged with simple assault and battery, second-degree assault and disturbance of the peace by threats. The charges stem from an incident on Tuesday when the alleged victim returned to her apartment after staying with a friend for two days and Gardener began asking about her whereabouts and why she was not answering her phone. The woman told police that she allowed Gardener to see her phone upon his request, and a dispute followed but they discussed the situation. However, based on her account, Gardener brought up the issue again that night, this time leading to a heated argument.
In her statement, she recounted that Gardener was on his phone and he gave it to her after she asked to see it. She then told him “I am done, I can’t do this anymore”. She further recounted that a friend then called to advise that she was outside to collect a blowdryer and she went into the bathroom to retrieve it. Upon exiting the bathroom, Gardener allegedly grabbed her neck and lifted her in the air, carrying her into the bedroom and slamming her onto the bed. She said that while Gardener applied pressure to her neck he began telling her, “if you leave me, I will kill you, you better not leave me!” She subsequently began striking him to the face and upper body with the blow dryer until he let her go.
She swiftly left and got into her friend's vehicle and the two drove off after her friend observed her crying. However, she told police that they observed Gardener following them on their way to the service station and when her friend went into the station, Gardener approached the vehicle and pulled her out by her arm. She recounted that she left with Gardener because she did not want to get her friend involved. When they arrived home she went to bed to avoid further altercation, however she was in pain and feared for her life.
Police made contact with Gardener the following day in the parking lot of the victim’s workplace. He indicated to police that he was waiting to return items that she left in his vehicle and agreed to travel to the police station upon the request of an officer. During his interview, Gardener denied all allegations but admitted to having a dispute with the victim because she found out that he was cheating, according to the probable cause fact sheet. He also admitted to driving to the service station to speak with the victim but denied assaulting her. He told police that she scratched him and assaulted him with a blowdryer but the officers did not observe any visible injuries. He was later arrested and charged.
Gardener, who has no prior arrests, appeared for a hearing on Friday where bail was set at $1,000. The judge indicated that the defendant will be released upon the posting of $101 cash and the signing of an unsecured bond for the remainder of the figure. While the matter remains pending, Gardener is prohibited from having any form of contact with the alleged victim and must maintain a distance of at least 1000 feet from her at all times.
