A St. Croix man faces domestic violence charges after a woman said he repeatedly choked and hit her when he could not reach her by phone, the V.I. Police Department reported.
The 911 Emergency Call Center received a report at 6:38 a.m. Tuesday of an assault that occurred in the Sion Farm area. The responding officers said the victim reported that Akeel Ahonza Phillips, 35, came home upset because she missed his telephone calls. She said that after trying to explain to him what occurred, he was enraged, grabbed her by the throat with both hands and squeezed, restricting her airway, according to the police report.
The victim said she fought off Phillips and moved to another room, but he followed her and began hitting her, holding her by the throat a second time and restricting her airway, the report stated. The victim sustained injuries because of the assault, it said.
Phillips was arrested at 11:57 a.m. and charged with second-degree assault, domestic violence; simple assault and battery; and disturbance of the peace, domestic violence, the report stated.
According to police, he admitted that he and the victim got into a verbal disagreement that turned physical. No bail was set, per the domestic violence statute, and he was transported to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing.