ST. CROIX — A Frederiksted man was arrested and charged with assault after a woman’s children told police they saw him hit their mother and hold her in a chokehold. 

A VIPD sergeant was responding to a domestic disturbance just before 10:30 am on Sunday. He arrived at the Canebrake Apartments and met with a woman who said that her boyfriend Dequan Jarvis had assaulted her during an argument, in front of her four children. She said that he held her by her neck so tightly that she could not breathe, and fought back to defend herself.

When police arrived, both the woman, Jarvis and at least two of the children were still in the house. The sergeant spoke to the woman’s minor daughters, the elder of whom told him that she saw Jarvis hit her mother first, before holding her in a headlock and pulling her hair. She also said that her little sister punched Jarvis after he hit their mother.

The younger sister confirmed seeing Jarvis choking their mother.

The woman was left with a small scrape on her left lower jawbone just below her ear, but declined medical attention.

Jarvis declined medical attention. After being arrested for second-degree assault as an act of domestic violence, he also declined to provide a statement to the officer.

After appearing In court on Monday, Jarvis was able to be bonded out after posting $101 in cash. His next court appearance is on March 1st, 2023.

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