Police Arrest Two Of Three Suspects Said To Be Involved In Shooting And Robbery Attempt Of Off-Duty Officer

ST. CROIX — The V.I.P.D. in a release issued Saturday said it captured two of three suspects said to be involved in the Friday morning robbery attempt and shooting that left an off-duty police officer and a female companion injured.

V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Glen Dratte said that on Friday at 10:32 a.m., Hansel Castillo, 27 (above right) and 21-year-old Luis Angel Fraticelli, above left, cut off the officer and the female individual while they were traveling on the Northside Road in the vicinity of the Estate La Reine intersection.

According to Mr. Dratte, once the suspects got near the vehicle with the victims, they took an undisclosed amount of cash from the vehicle. During the incident, the off-duty officer and female victim sustained gunshot injuries. Both victims remain in stable condition at the Juan F. Luis Hospital, Mr. Dratte said.

Mr. Castillo was arrested by the V.I.P.D.’s Criminal Investigation Bureau team at about 9:15 p.m; Mr. Fraticelli was arrested at 10:40 p.m. in the Profit Hills area, according to police. Both men were charged with first-degree robbery.

Both men were remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center pending their advisement hearing after failing to make bail of $75,000 each.

The V.I.P.D. thanked the community for its assistance in providing information leading to the quick arrest of these two individuals.

However, the investigation is still ongoing, and the Criminal Investigation Bureau is asking the community to continue to provide information by calling (340) 778-2211, or by contacting Crime Stoppers USVI with an anonymous tip here.