CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man who was blocking a roadway in Christiansted town was tased when he refused to move, authorities said.
Lafayette Artis Jr., 28, was arrested Saturday and charged with aggravated assault & battery and interfering with an officer discharging his duties, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The charges stem from an incident that began in Christiansted town Saturday, when Special Operations Bureau patrol officers were notified about “a male cursing profanity and causing a disturbance in the Pan Am Pavilion business area,” according to the VIPD.
Officers observed the male, later identified as Lafayette Artis, Jr., who then exited the Pan Am Pavilion and gradually made his way onto nearby Queen Cross Street, police said.
Artis stood in the middle of the roadway obstructing the normal flow of vehicle traffic and refused to move out the roadway when ordered to do so by an officer, according to police.
As the officer attempted to move him out of the roadway, he began to fight the officer and held onto the officer’s body armor, police said.
Artis was ordered to let go of the ballistic vest, but he did not comply to the officer’s lawful command, according to police.
The suspect was subsequently tased, placed in handcuffs, and taken into official custody without any further resistance, police said.
Artis’ bail was set at $1,000.00. He was scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing in Superior Court at Estate Kingshill this morning.
