Mugshot of Nazareen Stephen. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A woman has been arrested for allegedly assaulting her daughter during an argument.
Nazareen Stephen is charged with simple assault and battery, destruction of property and disturbance of the peace, all categorized as crimes of violence.
According to the alleged victim, things got heated on Sunday night after her mother came to her apartment upstairs to discuss some issues between them. She said that her mother pushed her in the chest using both hands and that she pushed her back. Her mother then allegedly punched her to the left side of her mouth causing a physical altercation to ensue. The woman told police that her grandmother overheard the commotion and unsuccessfully attempted to break up the fight, falling in the process. According to her statement to the police, this made her tell her mother that they need to stop, and the two released each other.
The victim recounted that she then sat on the couch but her mother proceeded to take a picture frame from the TV stand and strike her on the arm with it. Her grandmother reportedly attempted to intervene again but according to the victim, her mother hurried to the kitchen and returned with a knife. Stephen stood with the knife in hand while the grandmother stood between the pair, according to the probable cause fact sheet. The victim stated that she heard her toddler crying from the bedroom and as she attempted to attend to him her mother punched her to the face. She then got her son, locked the bedroom door and phoned 911.
The responding officers discovered several items on the living room floor including a broken picture frame and a damaged gold chain, according to the fact sheet. They also observed abrasions to the victim’s mouth and face. When police made contact with Stephen she refused to provide a statement and was arrested and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections to await a bail hearing.
At that Monday morning hearing, judge Paula Norkaitis set bail in the form of an unsecured bond valued at $1000, noting that the defendant has no prior criminal record. However, she expressed concern over the circumstances in the matter, as well as the alleged violence employed. As a result, Stephen has been ordered to maintain a minimum distance of 20 feet from her daughter and is prohibited from going to the upstairs apartment where she resides.
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