St. Croix man arrested after housing complex dispute over rental vehicle

A St. Croix resident was taken into custody Sunday evening following a heated altercation at Marley Homes Apartments in Frederiksted that centred on a rental car and escalated into a standoff with police, authorities said.

Luis Ayala, Jr. faces three charges: disturbance of the peace, disobeying a lawful police order, and interfering with an officer discharging their duties. Detective Sarah Mcfarlande of the Criminal Investigation Unit arrived at the housing complex around 8:00 p.m. on October 25 after 911 callers reported a possible firearm being brandished.

Ayala's mother, Tawana Spencer, had summoned police because her son was in a verbal dispute with his child's mother and would not leave the premises. The disagreement involved multiple family members and centred on a vehicle the woman had rented. Ayala maintained he had paid to extend the rental agreement and declined to surrender the keys. When detectives contacted the vehicle's registered owner, that person said no spare key was available and asked that the car be towed instead.

Spencer repeatedly urged her son to depart, telling officers his presence was creating a disturbance in the neighbourhood. Ayala refused to go, insisting his name appeared on the residential lease as well. After detectives informed him he was violating a lawful police order and would face arrest, he placed his hands behind his back and demanded custody, according to court documents.

Once Ayala was placed in a patrol car, his mother informed detectives he was diabetic and did not have his insulin. Officers saw signs he was losing consciousness in the back seat, removed his restraints, and called for emergency medical help. Ambulance 310 responded and paramedics assessed him before releasing him from care.

Detectives then tried to take Ayala to his sister's home to settle matters, but he refused to re-enter the vehicle. He began demanding his phone charger and said he felt unsafe, declaring that officers would cause his death. When told again that he was prohibited from remaining on the property and was defying orders, he resisted handcuffing by stiffening his arms, though he eventually complied after asking officers to release their grip so he could position his hands himself.

Ayala had no prior criminal history. He was booked and sent to the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility in Golden Grove. His formal arraignment is scheduled for November 12 before Magistrate Judge Christopher M. Timmons.