Joshua Torres Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man has been ordered to have no unlawful contact with the mother of his newborn child after he allegedly assaulted her.
Joshua Torres was arrested on Thursday and charged with simple assault and battery as a crime of domestic violence.
Police officers were dispatched to a local housing community on Thursday in reference to a reported disturbance between a woman and the father of her child. According to the probable cause fact sheet, police assistance was requested by a relative of the alleged victim, who stated that the woman was assaulted and that she has been continuously physically and verbally abused by her boyfriend in the past.
When police made contact with the victim she stated that Torres become extremely irate during the course of an argument. She claimed that he told her she was disrespecting him and then placed his hands against her throat, using force to push her against a stove. She then went upstairs to phone her relative who immediately called the police. During her statement, the woman alleged that Torres has repeatedly assaulted her in the past. According to the fact sheet, police observed bruising to the right side of the victim’s rib and she complained of pain to that area.
While police were interviewing the woman, Torres was on scene and he reportedly uttered “I put my hands on she because she disrespected me, and I don’t like people to disrespect me.” He also stated that he has anger issues, according to the probable cause fact sheet. Torres was transported to the police station where he provided a statement in reference to the incident. According to Torres, he was in the kitchen cleaning when his girlfriend asked him to hold their newborn baby. He told her that he was unable to do so as his hands were occupied and she became upset. He told police that shortly after he heard her on the phone, telling a relative “very disgraceful things” about him. He admitted that he felt disrespected and recounted that he grabbed her arm with the intention of taking away the phone. However, according to police, Torres then stated that he does not recall physically assaulting the victim in the manner in which she described.
At his advisement hearing on Monday bail was set at $1000 and the judge ruled that Torres will be released upon the posting of $101 cash, with an unsecured bond for the remainder. The judge affirmed that while the matter is pending, the defendant is to have no unlawful contact with the victim. The judge strongly recommended that Torres keep any contact with the woman limited to matters concerning their minor child.
