V.I.P.D. Makes Another Off-Island Arrest Through National Crime Information Center

ST. CROIX — Even suspects who leave the territory after allegedly committing crimes are not safe from the V.I.P.D.’s apprehension efforts, as Glen Dratte, the force’s public information officer, announced this afternoon that police on Friday arrested a man in Tampa Florida, wanted in the territory on third-degree assault and first-degree reckless endangerment charges, for his alleged involvement in an incident that took place in Frederiksted in February.

Mario Daniels, above, age 24, was arrested following a traffic stop in Tampa, Florida (police did not say when the traffic stop occurred, and calls placed to Mr. Dratte were not returned at time of writing), after the V.I.P.D. secured a warrant from the Superior Court of the Virgin Islands. The Tampa Police Department was alerted by Mr. Daniels’s wanted status through information the V.I.P.D. placed in the National Crime Information Center (N.C.I.C.); a computerized index of criminal justice information (i.e.- criminal record history information, fugitives, stolen properties, missing persons). In September, the V.I.P.D. was able to apprehend murder suspect K’moi Corraspe, through N.C.I.C. data.

Mr. Daniels was held in Tampa until he waived his extradition rights, and was extradited to the territory on November 4, where he was then arrested by local police.

“The Virgin Islands Police Department will continue to implement the further use of technology in both its crime prevention and apprehension efforts,” Police Commissioner Delroy Richards said. “N.C.I.C. is a computerize central database of documented criminal justice information available and serves as the lifeline of virtually every law enforcement agency in the United States 24 hours a day.”

Bail for Mr. Daniels was set at $125,000, a sum he was unable to secure. He was then remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending his advise-of-rights hearing.

Police are asking anyone with knowledge that may lead to the arrest of individuals suspected of perpetrating criminal acts to contact 911, or Crime Stoppers USVI, where your tip may net you a payday.