Mugshot of Tianiq Walters. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A woman was arrested for an incident in July where she allegedly assaulted another woman because they had been dating the same man.
According to court documents, in early August, police began investigating an assault which had allegedly occurred a few days prior at a popular hotel. They spoke with the victim, who told them that she and Tianiq Walters had recently found out that they were dating the same man. The initial conversation between the two was cordial, and the woman said that she learned that Walters had been seeing this individual for a longer period of time, and had more “history with him.”
The woman said that she answered Walters’s questions, and after that conversation, considered the matter closed. Walters, however, reportedly began posting aggressive messages on social media hinting at the possibility of a fight. The woman told officers that she was confused at the hostility and ultimately stopped responding to messages from Walters.
Walters, who worked alongside her romantic rival, reportedly began displaying her ire with the woman while on the job. The woman said that she accidentally bumped into Walters one day, who responded by striking her in the back. After that, the woman said that she explicitly sought to reassure Walters that she bore no ill will towards her, and that bumping into her was completely unintentional.
That did not seem to mollify the angry woman, and things came to a head on July 30, when the woman spotted another colleague leaving work with Walters. The co-worker called out to her, but the woman said she hesitated because of Walters, who reportedly started barking at her. After a brief verbal exchange, the woman said Walters began advancing towards her, while she backed away. Claiming not to care if she loses her job, Ms. Walters allegedly charged the woman, grabbing and squeezing her neck. As the two women grappled, Walters reportedly stumbled through the restaurant’s swiveling doors into the kitchen, giving the other woman the opportunity to break free. She said she punched Walters in self-defense before managing to exit the altercation completely. The woman said following the incident, she received two apologies from her attacker, via a social media app.
According to Walters, she had been dating her boyfriend for four years before he began seeing the other woman approximately nine months ago. She claimed that the woman had bumped into her intentionally, and admitted to holding the woman around her neck, but denied strangling her. The other woman hit her three times, Walters told police, and said that she also sustained scratches from the altercation.
Most witnesses declined to provide police with official statements, however one fellow employee confirmed that Walters initiated the physical altercation.
After being advised that she was wanted by police, Tianiq Walters turned herself in at 4:30 a.m. on Monday, and was subsequently arrested and charged with third-degree assault, simple assault, and disturbance of the peace. She was then remanded into custody to await her advice of rights hearing.
In court on Monday, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis found probable cause to uphold all charges against Walters. She modified the $25,000 bail to allow the posting of 10% in cash in order to be released, which was done.
Walters must now report to the probation office once a week by telephone, and is banned from her former workplace. She must remain at least 20 feet away from the victim and any witnesses in the matter, and is also restricted from firearms, ammunition, or dangerous weapons while the case is pending.
Walters is next scheduled to appear in court on September 27.
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