Mugshot of Kahlia Cascen. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A late-night dispute in Gallows Bay that police say began over a forgotten cell phone escalated into allegations of a knife attack, property damage, and conflicting accounts of reckless driving, resulting in the arrest of a woman on multiple domestic violence-related charges.
According to court documents, just before midnight on Monday, officers were dispatched to Gallows Bay in Christiansted following reports of damage to a vehicle. When they arrived, they spoke with the vehicle’s owner, who described a chain of events that began earlier in the evening.
The man told police he had been giving his off-and-on partner of three years, Kahlia Cascen, and her brother a ride home. After dropping them off, he realized the brother had left his phone inside the vehicle. He said he called them immediately to say he would return the phone, but subsequently fell asleep.
Hours later, the man said he received a call from Ms. Cascen’s brother, and the conversation turned argumentative. He then drove back to their residence, where he encountered Ms. Cascen, her brother, and another resident seated near a bench outside the home.
According to the man, Ms. Cascen approached his vehicle aggressively and began pulling on the locked passenger-side door handle. When she was unable to gain entry, he said she went to retrieve a foot-long, red-handled knife.
The man told police that when he lowered his window slightly to hand over the phone, Ms. Cascen grabbed it and then immediately attempted to stab him through the small opening. She then reportedly attempted to puncture his front tire on the right-hand side. At the same time, he said her brother threatened to break the vehicle’s glass with a rock he was holding.
Fearing injury, the man said he drove off. As he did, Ms. Cascen’s brother threw the rock, striking the rear of the vehicle. The man stated that he stopped near a street corner, at which point Ms. Cascen and her brother attacked the vehicle again — Ms. Cascen with the knife and her brother with his fists. According to his account, they stopped only when called off by the other resident of the home.
Police also interviewed Ms. Cascen and her brother, who provided a different version of events. They told officers that when the man approached their residence, he was driving recklessly and nearly struck the brother. They further stated that as he was leaving, he pulled forward and reversed several times in an attempt to hit them both.
The brother admitted throwing the rock at the vehicle as it departed, and Ms. Cascen also admitted doing the same. She told police that they backed away when they observed the man reaching for something inside the vehicle that she believed was a firearm.
Ms. Cascen denied the man’s description of their relationship, telling officers she had only known him for one year. She said he was upset because she declined to pursue a romantic relationship with him after their first intimate encounter.
Officers documented damage to the man’s SUV, which he said he had purchased just last week. The vehicle bore circular holes and linear scratches on the front passenger window, front passenger glass, and right fender. The rear driver-side door and rear bumper were dented. Officers also observed a “grapefruit-sized rock” in the street near the vehicle.
Following their investigation, Ms. Cascen was arrested and charged with third-degree assault and destruction of property, both as crimes of domestic violence. She was also charged with disturbance of the peace and damaging a vehicle.
She was remanded into custody pending her initial court appearance on Tuesday before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross. During her advice of rights hearing, the judge found probable cause to uphold all charges.
Bail was set at $25,000, with Ms. Cascen required to post $500 in cash to secure her release; the remainder will be signed as an unsecured bond. As conditions of release, she must remain at least 250 feet away from the alleged victim and comply with all other stipulated conditions while awaiting trial.
Her next court appearance is scheduled for February 25.
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