Mugshot of Ajani George. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Police have arrested and charged a man who fought, disrespected and threatened multiple officers while he appeared to be intoxicated.
Ajani George, who told police that he was a teacher and gym coach at a local high school, was arrested in the early hours of Sunday morning. VIPD officers encountered George while conducting a walk-through inspection at a restaurant and bar in Havensight.
According to the probable cause fact sheet, they observed the man later identified as George being pushed towards the entrance by a woman. The officers also noticed other patrons getting between the pair and one officer intervened to speak with the woman who then walked back to the area where she had been standing. Two men were then seen speaking to George and he was observed walking back through the crowd in a sluggish manner, staggering from side to side and spilling the beverage in his hand. According to officers, George walked right next to the woman who was pushing him earlier and brushed up on her as he passed.
Police then observed him bump into a man and assume a defensive stance, raising his hands as if he were preparing to fight. An officer immediately walked over and some patrons intervened to stop what appeared to be an imminent altercation. When police attempted to investigate whether the man was intoxicated, he pulled his hand away from the officer and pushed the officer in the chest area. The officer grabbed him again and instructed him that he was under arrest but he began fighting with the officer, causing both of them to fall to the ground.
The officer recounts in the probable cause fact sheet that he feared for his life as George had a height, weight and hand reach advantage over him and was very aggressive and strong. He described George as very muscular, weighing about 225 pounds with a height of approximately six foot four inches. The officer noted that while on the ground he could smell the alcohol on the man’s breath and that George was cursing, punching and grappling with him.
Two officers arrived and pulled George away but he continued to fight until the officers removed him from the establishment. Although the officers gave him clear verbal commands that he was under arrest the man actively resisted and continued fighting. He reportedly told police “none of you can check me, I will [expletive] up all of you officers.” They were later able to handcuff and detain him. However, when transported to the Adam Command Police Station, George became extremely angry, combative and disrespectful, threatening the officers and insisting that he was smarter than them all because he was a teacher, the officers said.
According to the fact sheet, George later began punching the walls in the holding area and kicking the door, causing damage. Police say at one point George’s cellphone rang and he answered via his smartwatch then got upset after an officer disconnected the call. He then slammed his face into the glass causing it to bleed while shouting “let me the [expletive] out. I going [expletive] you all up.” He later had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for cuts to his face and arm after he refused to allow EMS to render assistance to him at the station. He was returned to the station with a soft cast on his hand and a bandage on his nose.
George was charged with disturbance of the peace, destruction of government property and interfering with an officer discharging his duty. Unable to post bail set at $28,000, he was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections to await a hearing.
After repeatedly threatening and insulting multiple officers, George eventually apologized for his behavior and the trouble that he caused. He appeared before a judge on Monday morning and bail was reduced to $1,000 with an allowance for his release upon posting $500 in cash. Court documents show that the amount was posted as of Monday.
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