KINGSHILL — A former security officer once tasked with protecting the public stood before a judge today to answer for allegations of violent “acting out” that resulted in her own arrest—a position she has reportedly occupied before.
The Advice of Rights Tishika Rogers appeared in the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands on Thursday morning for an Advice of Rights hearing. Standing before the Honorable Yolan C. Brow Ross in Room CR-103, Rogers was formally read the criminal counts against her, which include one count of third-degree assault (14 V.I.C. 298(3)) and two counts related to domestic violence (16 V.I.C 91(b)(1) and (2)). The Office of the Territorial Public Defender has been appointed to represent her as the case moves forward.
A Pattern of Conduct While the court addressed the current charges, public records reveal this is not Rogers’ first encounter with the Territorial Public Defender’s office. A September 2020 court calendar lists Rogers facing a status conference for several serious charges, including 14 V.I.C. 299(2) (Simple Assault and Battery). At that time, she was represented by Yohana Manning, Esq..
Rogers is a former officer with Ranger American. Her transition from a security cadet—once remembered for demanding personal chauffeurs to reach her assigned posts—to a recurring defendant on felony dockets provides a stark data point for Attorney General Rhea regarding the vetting and conduct of local security personnel.
The Morning Docket The Rogers hearing was the primary criminal matter in a courtroom otherwise occupied by a wide-reaching environmental “clean-up” sweep. As Rogers stood to hear her rights, the gallery was filled with individuals cited for various waste management offenses across St. Croix, including:
- Unauthorized Waste Disposal: Joseph L. Nicholas, Jerome Frederick, and Ted Mills were among those facing hearings for violations of 19 V.I.C. 1563(18).
- Hauling Loose Waste: Janis Collins and Milton Burt appeared for citations involving the improper transport of waste materials (19 V.I.C. 1563(4))
