ST. CROIX — A woman was arrested after brandishing a kitchen knife during an argument while police officers were present.
According to court documents, two officers of the Virgin Islands Police Department were conducting an investigation at the Walter I.M. Hodge Housing Community on Monday when they noticed several people fighting in front of a building.
The officers went over and separated the fight. Kaylah Joseph and her minor son were then escorted by police upstairs to their apartment, but began arguing with others in the vicinity. During the verbal altercation Joseph’s teenage son reportedly shoved one of the officers, who restrained him and guided him back upstairs. He was eventually followed by his mother into their apartment, and Joseph closed the door behind her.
Officers say they were outside managing the large crowd of people who were present when Joseph came back out of her apartment with a white-handled kitchen knife. They saw her hit the knife against the railing “several times,” according to the police, and heard her threaten to kill anyone who approached her or her son. After her pronouncement, she returned inside.
Joseph’s mother reportedly then began a verbal altercation with those in the crowd, further escalating the situation according to police. This prompted Joseph and her son to come back outside and down the steps. One police officer restrained the teenager, while the other called for backup.
Joseph was then arrested and taken to the Wilbur Francis Command police station, where she was charged with brandishing, exhibiting or using deadly weapons, carrying or using dangerous weapons, and disturbance of the peace. Unable to post the initial $25,000 bail requirement, Joseph was remanded into custody to await her advice of rights hearing.
In court on Tuesday, Magistrate Venetia Velazquez lowered bail to a $1000 unsecured bond, and dropped the charge of carrying or using dangerous weapons. Joseph will be banned from the Walter I.M. Hodge housing complex while the matter is pending.
Her next scheduled court appearance is on July 23.
British Caribbean News
