Mugshot of Janiah Mateo. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — Janiah Mateo has been charged in connection with an alleged group assault that left a Little Princess resident with a fractured nose after the woman confronted three people about dumping trash in her neighborhood.
Ms. Mateo surrendered at the Wilbur Francis Command police station late Tuesday night after officers had been unable to locate her following the June 26 incident.
She was arrested and charged with third-degree assault, simple assault and battery, and disturbance of the peace by fighting. Unable to post the initial $25,000 bail requirement, Ms. Mateo was remanded into custody pending an advice-of-rights hearing.
Police were first alerted to the incident in late June when the injured woman reported that three women had beaten her.
She told officers that she was driving home on the afternoon of June 26 when she saw the women dumping trash in her neighborhood. The resident exited her vehicle and told them they could not dispose of their garbage there.
According to the police account, Ms. Mateo addressed the resident by name and told her, “I’ve wanted to beat you for a long time,”
The resident attempted to return to her vehicle but was reportedly grabbed by the hair and punched several times in the face by Ms. Mateo and her mother.
An unidentified liquid was also allegedly thrown at the woman, splashing across her face and onto the dashboard and seats of her vehicle.
The woman told police that she attempted to record the incident but was unable to do so.
Responding officers documented a laceration across the bridge of her nose, bleeding from her nose, facial swelling and blood covering her face and clothing.
Hospital records later showed that the woman suffered a fractured nose during the assault.
Police said they were unable to locate Ms. Mateo until she appeared at the Wilbur Francis Command police station and turned herself in.
Her advice-of-rights hearing was scheduled for Wednesday morning before Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross.
As of press time, no information had been made public regarding the outcome of the hearing or whether it occurred as scheduled. No future hearings were listed for Ms. Mateo at that time.
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