St. Croix Man Arrested Following Domestic Abuse and Assault Charges

A St. Croix man turned himself into police Wednesday for another assault of his ex-girlfriend, the V.I. Police Department reported.

On Wednesday, a female victim called the 911 Emergency Call Center requesting police assistance with her ex-boyfriend, who assaulted her, causing visible injuries, according to the police report.

Upon arrival at the scene, the victim told detectives that her ex-boyfriend, K’Jahni Rivera assaulted her because she was explaining to him how to be a good father to his daughter. Rivera became enraged and grabbed her by the throat on more than one occasion, each time restricting her airway. When she asked him to take her home, he continued his assault by punching and strangling her to where she lost consciousness. The victim sustained black and blue marks throughout her body, multiple abrasions, and contusions, the police report stated.

The victim further advised the 911 dispatcher of where the suspect lives and VIPD attempted to locate Rivera with no luck. As a result, an All Point Bulletin was aired via the 911 Emergency Call Center for the arrest of Rivera, according to the report.

On Wednesday, 20-year-old Rivera turned himself in at the Wilbur H. Francis Command Police Station, where he was arrested without incident, Mirandized, and provided a statement to detectives. He denied all the allegations, stating that the victim was the aggressor and she attacked him, the report stated.

Rivera was charged with assault, DV, attempted murder, simple assault and battery, and disturbance of the peace by fighting. Per the DV statute, no bail was provided and Rivera was remanded to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing, scheduled for Friday, police said.