St. Thomas Arrests: First And Third-Degree Assault Incidents

ST. THOMAS — V.I.P.D. Media Specialist Sakeeda Freeman has announced two arrests in St. Thomas that occurred on Wednesday.

The first, which occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m., saw police arresting Avrel Turnbull, above left, pursuant to an arrest warrant issued by Magistrate Judge Carolyn P. Hermon-Percell.

Mr. Turnbull was charged with reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm during a crime of violence, discharging or aiming a firearm, destruction of property and disturbance of the peace.

On Sunday, October 9, 2016, two victims positively identified Mr. Turnbull as the male they observed firing several shots at them while they were driving out of the Bovoni dump in their garbage truck. One of the victims stated that prior to the shots being fired, he had a verbal altercation with Mr. Turnbull.

Unable to make bail of $50,000, Mr. Turnbull was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections.

The second arrest took place at roughly 7:30 p.m. According to police, contact was made with Rashim Richards in the Red Hook area, where he was taken into custody and arrested pursuant to an arrest warrant and charged with using a dangerous weapon and disturbance of the peace.

On Wednesday, January 7, 2015, a victim reported that while he sat on a friend’s porch, he got into a verbal altercation and was assaulted by Mr. Richards. The victim said that a scuffle then ensued, and Mr. Richards struck him several times with a closed fist, pulled out a knife and stabbed him in his back. The victim further stated that Mr. Richards also threw a rock at the front windshield of his vehicle, causing it to shatter. Mr. Richards also punctured two of the victim’s vehicle tires.

The victim concluded by stating that Mr. Richards fled in an unknown direction.

The victim was transported to the Roy Lester Schneider Hospital for medical treatment via ambulance.

Unable to make bail of $25,000, Mr. Richards was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advise-of-rights hearing. 

The V.I.P.D. is asking anyone with information that may lead to the arrest of suspects to call (340) 774-2211 ext. 5579, the Criminal Investigation Bureau at (340)714-9807, or Crime Stoppers USVI, where your tip may lead to a payday.