Mugshot of Javier Rodriguez. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A man was arrested and charged with crimes of domestic violence after his girlfriend reported to police that he threatened to kill her in the midst of a vicious assault.
According to court documents, the woman appeared at a police station at about 3:20 p.m. on Tuesday to report the assault, which she said happened on Sunday. She told officers that she got to her Mt. Pleasant home that afternoon, returning from a shopping trip with a friend and her son. When she arrived, she found 42-year-old Javier Rodriguez, her boyfriend, sitting in his vehicle in the yard.
She told officers that Rodriguez’s aggression began immediately, as he reached into her friend’s trunk and threw the clothing out of the shopping bags, questioning if that is what she had been doing during her absence.
The couple reportedly entered the woman’s home together, with Rodriguez reportedly asking repeatedly if his girlfriend was sleeping with his adult son. The woman told officers that she sat on the couch, listening to the vile accusations coming from her boyfriend. When she told him that his allegations were false, Rodriguez reportedly escalated the altercation to a physical assault, punching his girlfriend in her head and face, slapping her in the face, and using her own hands to hit her in the head.
He reportedly refused to allow her to leave, pushing her back down onto the couch every time she tried to rise. When the woman’s adult son attempted to intervene, Rodriguez reportedly locked him out of the apartment and continued his assault.
Apart from his hands and fists, Rodriguez reportedly hit his girlfriend with several objects – his cellphone and a broomstick among them. He also reportedly began to strangle her, but stopped once the woman began gasping for air. During the assault, the woman recounted how her boyfriend threatened to either kill her himself, or send someone to do the deed if he were arrested for his assault.
His threats scared the woman, she said, explaining her hesitation in making the report. She spoke of pain in her throat, face, neck, and officers took note of her burst lip, bruises on her thigh and ribs, and a swollen cheek.
Officers then tracked Rodriguez to his Frederiksted home, where he was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and simple assault, all as crimes of domestic violence. He was also charged with disturbing the peace, and remanded into custody to await his advice of rights hearing.
Court records indicate that the first court appearance for Rodriguez was scheduled for Wednesday morning, however as of press time no records were available to indicate whether he did appear before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross, or if he did, what the judge ordered in terms of bail and pre-trial release conditions.
Editor’s note: domestic violence is a serious issue in the Virgin Islands and across the nation. If you are seeking assistance in leaving or dealing with an abusive relationship, the Women’s Coalition of St. Croix (24/7 Hotline 340-773-9272) and the Family Resource Center on St. Thomas 24/7 Hotline 340-776-7867) may be able to help.
