He Said: She Said: Argument at Festival Field Ends in One Arrest

NEWPORT, RI—Tyrese Colbert, 26, of Newport, called police on Monday, Jan. 23 at 11 a.m. after an argument at his girl friend's home turned violent.

She also called police and complained Colbert had punched holes in her walls, hit and choked her and held her down by her arms. She escaped out the back door and brought their two children, 18 months and 4 months old, to her sister's apartment, also in Festival Field.

When police arrived, they found her at the rear of Building 5. She told her side of the story. Then police knocked at her apartment door, and Colbert answered.

Colbert, who is described as homeless, said his girl friend started an argument because he was taking too long to dress. She pushed the bedroom door open so hard the knob went through the dry wall, he said. Then she threw a laundry basket at him. The basket struck a large standing speaker, which toppled over. He attempted to leave the bedroom, but she followed him down the hallway, pushed him, and his head struck the wall.

That was when he held her arms back, he said.

But she told police Colbert had started the argument. He claimed she did not love him. He pushed her head into the wall, and he also pushed the door knob through the dry wall.

Police could find no witnesses to verify who had started the argument. They re-interviewed both, and ultimately decided to charge Colbert because it was not his residence and he could have left the premises before the argument came to blows.

He was charged domestic simple assault and battery, which is a misdemeanor.