Mugshot of Jeffrey Escanio. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A DJ at a Christiansted bar is now facing robbery and assault charges after reportedly snatching a gold chain off the neck of a female patron.
According to court documents, police were alerted to the incident in the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning, when a woman made a report to the 911 Emergency Call Center. She told responding officers that she was at the bar dancing when the DJ – Jeffrey Escanio – rushed up to her and grabbed the gold chain around her neck.
His grip on the chain restricted her airway, the woman said. Between the strangulation and the loud music, she could not hear what he was telling her. After a while, he released his grip and walked away, but her chain, valued at approximately $1,200, was gone. Officers noted the abrasion to the woman’s upper chest area.
For his part, Escanio accused the woman of taking his gold bracelet at some point last year, but denied taking her chain. His wife, however, told police that he did take the chain because the woman was in possession of a jewelry item of Escanio’s.
Before his arrest, officers confiscated Escanio’s licensed firearm, reportedly for safety purposes. They then detained him on charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree assault, and grand larceny. He was remanded into custody pending the disposition of a $75,000 bail requirement while awaiting his first appearance in court.
Escanio’s advice of rights hearing was scheduled for March 3 before Magistrate Christopher Timmons, however as of press time there is no indication of whether it has been held.
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