Mugshot of Elroy Tonge. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Elroy Tonge, who brazenly predicted that his bail would only amount to $1,000 after an assault, found his words holding true. Tonge is now facing multiple felony charges after he allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend during a confrontation at her apartment. He had urged her to call the police, citing the low bail amount for domestic violence cases.
According to court documents, the 911 Emergency Call Center received a report of an assault on the night of May 15. Responding officers made contact with a woman who said that her ex-boyfriend had forced his way into her apartment and stolen a gold chain from around her neck, as well as her mobile phone.
She told officers that the man, Elroy Tonge, had called earlier in the day to say that he would be coming to drop off paperwork for the woman’s vehicle. When he arrived, the woman said she went outside to meet him. As she was taking the documents, the woman said that Tonge refused to release his grip on the paperwork. He reportedly began to threaten to take the woman’s chain from her.
Upon hearing his words, the woman said she ran back inside the house, but Tonge reportedly followed, wedging his body between the door frame and the door, preventing her from closing it. With that, he was allegedly able to force his way inside the apartment, and followed her to the living room, where he is said to have attacked.
The woman recounted to police how Tonge grabbed her head and forced it downwards, wrapping his right arm around her neck and applying pressure in a chokehold. With his left hand, the man reportedly began pulling the woman’s gold chain while she held onto the jewelry with both hands.
With the chain biting into her neck and Mr. Tonge’s arm restricting her airflow, the woman described being in pain and unable to breathe. Eventually, the chain burst, but the woman was still grasping it with her hands. She told police that Tonge then bit her left hand, at which time she released the necklace.
The woman said she told Tonge that she would call the police, upon which he snatched the mobile phone from her hands and left the apartment. The alleged victim said that she tried to grab the phone back, but was only able to hang on to his black stocking cap as he exited. Afterwards, she said she received a call on her iPad, during which he encouraged her to call the police, reportedly noting that bail for domestic violence offenses was a mere $1000.
Police took note of the scratches, bruises and discoloration to the woman’s upper body, as well as the bruise on her left hand where she said she was bitten.
Tonge turned himself in on May 20, but declined to provide a statement. He was arrested and charged with first-degree burglary, aggravated assault and battery, and second-degree assault, all as crimes of domestic violence. He was additionally charged with grand larceny, and remanded into custody to await his first court appearance.
The next day, Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross found probable cause to uphold all the charges against Tongue. As he predicted, his bail was set at $1000 payable in cash, and he is scheduled to return to court on June 5 for arraignment.
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