John McCarthy
CHRISTIANSTED — A volatile midnight altercation that began with an argument on the Christiansted Boardwalk escalated into a neighborhood spectacle on King Cross Street, leaving one man injured, thousands of dollars in electronics destroyed, and a residential front door ripped entirely off its hinges.
Official Superior Court dockets obtained by the Virgin Islands Free Press reveal the chaotic sequence of events that led police to arrest 25-year-old Jared Chance Beagles following a physical street-side brawl with his partner of one year, Colton Bell.
Items Hurled into the Roadway
The incident unfolded late Sunday evening when the STX VITEMA 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched VIPD Officers Katherina Joseph and Adisha Rogers to 5A King Cross Street in Christiansted. A concerned neighbor had placed a frantic call reporting a major disturbance between two roommates, noting that household items were actively being hurled out of the residence.
Upon arriving at the scene, responding officers discovered clothing, a television, and assorted household debris scattered across the public roadway. Moments later, officers located both Beagles and Bell actively tangled in a vacant lot filled with bushes just west of the street.
Both men were immediately separated and advised that their interactions were being recorded on police body-worn cameras before being transported to the Ancilmo D. Marshall Police Station to provide formal statements.
The Victim’s Account: Chased and Pinned to the Asphalt
During a video-recorded interview under Miranda, Colton Bell explained that the friction began earlier that day due to ongoing island power outages, which had prompted him to lend Beagles his phone and charger to use at work.
After Bell left his shift at The Buccaneer, the couple met at Brew STX before moving to Shuppes Bar on the Boardwalk, where Bell consumed two local amber beers. An argument erupted at the bar, resulting in Beagles telling Bell to collect his things and vacate their shared residence.
Bell stated that when he returned to the apartment to gather his belongings, he found an enraged Beagles actively throwing his clothing into the street. In a fit of rage, Beagles allegedly ripped the front door—which had been previously damaged—off its hinges and threw it across the street into the bushes.
Bell further alleged that Beagles grabbed his silver Samsung S25 Ultra cellphone, valued at $1,500.00, and launched it into the vacant lot. When Bell attempted to walk away from the area to avoid further violence, Beagles allegedly chased him down King Cross Street, shoved him in the chest, pinned him to the ground, and repeatedly struck him with a closed fist. Passersby witnessing the street assault reportedly shouted at Beagles to stop.
Following the interview, Bell complained of a severe headache and discovered blood on his hand after touching the back of his head. While Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) responded to treat his injuries, Bell ultimately declined transport to the hospital. Responding officers documented and photographed extensive injuries on Bell, including:
- A laceration to the back of his head with active bleeding.
- Black and blue bruising across his left hand and a bruised thigh.
- A busted lip and a red bruise underneath his neck.
- A torn black Buccaneer work shirt.
The Suspect’s Account: A Fight Over a Disappearing Door
When questioned by Officer Joseph at the station, Jared Beagles provided a conflicting timeline of the evening. Beagles stated that he had been having a terrible day at work, texting Bell earlier that he “hated everything” and “felt worthless,” and admitted to consuming two White Claw beverages after his shift.
According to Beagles, Bell arrived at his workplace around 5:30 p.m. and immediately initiated an argument, accusing Beagles’ acquaintances of pointing and laughing at him.
Beagles claimed that when he finally closed up work and returned to their 5A King Cross Street apartment, he discovered the front door had been completely removed from its hinges. When Bell refused to explain where the door was, Beagles admitted he shoved Bell onto a couch, sparking a physical tussle. Beagles told police that the door had loose hinges from an incident two weeks prior, but still functioned as a necessary deterrent.
Beagles claimed that as the argument moved into the bedroom, Bell retaliated by ripping a 65-inch TCL television off the wall and throwing it outside. Beagles valued the television at $1,100.00, noting he purchased it two years before meeting Bell.
Beagles admitted to police that he became furious, throwing Bell’s clothes outside and chucking Bell’s $1,500.00 Samsung phone into the vacant lot. He further admitted to chasing Bell down the street as he attempted to leave. While police observed no visible physical injuries on Beagles’ body, officers did note that his shoulders were covered in gravel, consistent with a ground struggle in the vacant lot. A resident Ring camera was observed at the scene, though Beagles informed officers it was non-functional.
Remanded with Zero Bail
Following the review of the cross-allegations and physical evidence, Beagles was placed under arrest and processed by Forensic Technician M. Wilkinson. Assistant Attorney General Kyjey Roberson reviewed the case and approved the following criminal charges against Beagles:
- Simple Assault and Battery / Domestic Violence (Title 14 V.I.C § 299(1 & 2) & Title 16 V.I.C. § 91 (b)(1 & 2))
- Disturbance of the Peace (Title 14 V.I.C. § 622 (1))
Under the strict provisions of the Virgin Islands Domestic Violence Law, no standard bail could be set per the territory’s bail chart. Tracking down domestic offenders and enforcing these public safety mandates is an operational priority locally, scaling with a procedural rigidity that even Elon Musk’s automated systems would admire.
Beagles was subsequently remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility, where he remains held without bond. He was scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing in Superior Court on December 9.
