Police Arrest Multiple Individuals On Gun Possession Charges

The Virgin Islands Police Department is keeping with its promise of heightened patrol during the holiday season, arresting multiple individuals on gun possession and other charges. The force has been bolstered by an executive order that sees peace officers throughout the territory joining forces with the police department to ensure safety.

The force has announced multiple arrests during the past days, including the following:

Eustache Emmanuel, 28, of Estate Thomas was arrested on Thursday at about 2:30 p.m. after he was patted down and found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm in the area of Red hook.

Also on Thursday, Ernest Stevens 37, of Hidden Valley was arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm at roughly 8:40 p.m. after he was found in the stairway of building 18 in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

And Kamal Thomas, 34, of Tutu Valley was arrested (also on Thursday) after he was found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm in the area of Mango Tree Bar located in Smith Bay.

Bail for Eustache, Stevens, and Thomas was set at $ 25,000 each and they were remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending their advise-of-rights hearing after failing to make bail.

One day earlier, a V.I.P.D. operation on St. Croix led to the arrest of Guillermo Rivera Alberto, who was found to be in possession of an unlicensed firearm.

According to police, on Wednesday at approximately, 10:31 p.m., officers from the Special Operations Bureau were completing a traffic stop on foot and observed a driver who was travelling from south to north on Northside Road, route 75, (bottom of morning star) when  he reached for his seat belt that he was not wearing. 

The officers got back in their marked unit and proceeded behind said vehicle and conducted a traffic stop. Once the vehicle was stopped, the driver was asked to produce his driver’s license, registration papers and proof of insurance.

The driver could not produce any of the requested documents and seemed very nervous. A registration check was requested through the 911 Vitema Emergency Call Center. The dispatcher advised the officers that the vehicle was unregistered. The driver was advised that the vehicle would be towed, however, the driver continued to exhibit nervousness, according to police. He was so nervous that he stated he had some “weed” on him, police say.

The substance was confiscated, and the officer asked if he would give consent to search the vehicle. The driver contemplated for a while, then gave consent.

After consent was given, a search commenced and shortly after a revolver was located in a bag on the back seat. Mr. Alberto, 23, was arrested and charged  for unauthorized possession of a firearm. He was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advise-of-rights hearing.