Two women at the Frenchman’s Reef pool Wednesday screamed when they saw a man dangling a woman from a seventh-floor balcony, according to court records.
Frank Farrugia and girlfriend Dana Rodriguez had argued at The Westin St. Thomas Beach Resort & Spa restaurant and bar Wednesday afternoon, according to court records. Farrugia was allegedly attempting to take Rodriguez’s mobile phone. The couple returned to their seventh-floor room where, more than three hours later, they allegedly assaulted each other.
Farrugia allegedly threw a Diet Coke can at Rodriguez, narrowly missing her head and smashing into the wall. He then allegedly bit her arm. When Farrugia finally got the phone, he took it to the balcony and threatened to throw it over, according to court records.
“Ms. Rodriguez alleged that when she attempted to retrieve her phone, Mr. Farrugia grabbed her under both arms and chest area and, with force, pulled her over the balcony railing, placing her in immediate fear for her life. She stated she pleaded with him not to kill her, to which Mr. Farrugia responded, ‘I don’t care if I have to go to jail,’” police told the Virgin Islands Superior Court.
When two women at the pool below started screaming, Farrugia pulled Rodriguez back onto the balcony, police said.
Hotel security rushed to the room where they reported a highly intoxicated Farrugia was having trouble balancing.
Farrugia said Rodriguez was a violent person who had beaten him before. He showed investigators photos of previous wounds. Farrugia said he threw the phone over the balcony as Rodriguez had punched him in the face multiple times, according to court records.
Police said Farrugia appeared to have wounds to the left eye consistent with blows and scratches on his back. Rodriguez appeared to have a bite-shaped mark on her right upper arm.
Both were arrested for domestic violence-related assault and held without bail. Farrugia also faced charges of attempted murder, reckless endangerment, destruction of property, and disturbance of the peace.
