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$20k bail for driver in 'bizarre' police chase

- pleads guilty to all but one charge
Shannon John, a VIslander, appeared before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin on Tuesday afternoon, May 12, 2020, to answer to several charges. Photo: Facebook
In multiple videos captured by residents and posted on social media, a white and black civilian vehicle can be seen driving in reverse and speeding through the streets of the territory with a Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) vehicle closely trailing the car. Photo: Team of Reporters
In multiple videos captured by residents and posted on social media, a white and black civilian vehicle can be seen driving in reverse and speeding through the streets of the territory with a Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) vehicle closely trailing the car. Photo: Team of Reporters
ROAD TOWN, Tortola, VI- The driver of a motorcar who led members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in a bizarre chase on the Blackburn Highway, Tortola, on May 9, 2020, was granted $20,000 bail after pleading guilty to all but one charge.

Shannon John, a VIslander, appeared before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin on Tuesday afternoon, May 12, 2020, to answer to several charges.

He pleaded guilty to the charge of Possession of a Controlled Drug but not guilty to the other criminal charge of Reckless and Negligence Act.

John, 34, of Little Dix Hill, Tortola, pleaded guilty to all the traffic offences – Travelling Backwards with a Motor Vehicle more than was Requisite, Failing to Stop at the Sound of a Siren, Driving an Unlicensed Vehicle and Driving an Uninsured Vehicle.

The chase

Prosecutor Annjel X. Flax-Solomon told the court that on May 9, 2020, at about 12:00 pm, members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), Her Majesty’s Customs and Immigration Department were on mobile patrol duties along the Blackburn Highway, in the vicinity of Fine Foods Supermarket, when they observed a vehicle approaching in an easterly direction.

The vehicle was void of a license sticker affixed to it.

The RVIPF then engaged their siren and lights, indicating for the vehicle to stop.

Instead of stopping, the vehicle was placed in reverse and a chase commenced with the accused who was later identified as the defendant.

John reversed from a nearby bar next to the supermarket to Fat Hogs Bay, where he took a right into a residential area in Fat Hogs Bay, emerging back unto the Blackburn Highway via the road next to the Natural Food Store.

The accused continued driving backwards, heading east, and then took a left at the East End Police Station and unto Little Dix Hill road where he passed the Fire Station and took the next right, leading to the Francis Lettsome Primary School where he was finally stopped.

Accused had weed on him

Flax said John was asked to step out of the vehicle and when he did he had in his hand a bag containing green vegetable matter, suspected to be cannabis.

He was placed in custody and, when questioned about his actions, he said he decided to attempt to flee because he had ‘weed’ on him.

A search was conducted in the vehicle’s console, and a clear plastic bag containing suspected cannabis was found.

Meanwhile, the sole passenger that was inside the vehicle denied knowing about the bag containing the suspected drug.

The two men were arrested and taken to the Road Town Police Station, along with the cannabis and the vehicle.

When weighed, the suspected drug came up to 30 grams, with an approximate street value of $300.

'Just catching a ride'

Audiovisual interview was done with the passenger and he confirmed that he was “just catching a ride” and had no idea that there was cannabis in the vehicle.

An interview was also conducted with the accused and he confirmed that the cannabis and the vehicle belonged to him and the car was neither licensed nor insured.

The matter has been adjourned to July 8, 2020.

John, who is unrepresented, told Magistrate Benjamin he had no intention of getting an attorney.

The defendant works as a mechanic for a charter company.

As part of his bail conditions, John is to surrender his travel documents to police.

16 Responses to “$20k bail for driver in 'bizarre' police chase”

  • island man (12/05/2020, 17:31) Like (10) Dislike (2) Reply
    So the hold his travel documents??? Umm where would he flee using travel documents :) when ports are closed. The man can drive though give him props for that.
  • John (12/05/2020, 18:06) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    Lesson learned?
  • lock em up (12/05/2020, 18:18) Like (5) Dislike (2) Reply
    surrender passport/ Borders open?
  • simple (12/05/2020, 19:32) Like (4) Dislike (15) Reply
    I have a feeling he have vincy blood in him
  • @simple (12/05/2020, 21:08) Like (3) Dislike (1) Reply
    You is one how don’t live Vincy What goes around comes around ..you is one how make all the bad report here. .you need to stop.
  • Greg (12/05/2020, 22:22) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
    Please! He did this to himself and you all are acting as though he did nothing wrong. Everyone must dance to the music when they commit crimes. All I can say is he is lucky because if he was in the U.S., they would have shot him dead because those White Cops hate Black people. He is lucky he is on home ground here, but they need to stop destroying our beautiful home here.
    • US (13/05/2020, 07:41) Like (4) Dislike (2) Reply
      @Greg, I live in the US and there are also black cops that hate other blacks also. I would agree, if this had happen in the US, the cops would have gun down the driver of the car even if he was a black cop.
  • Funny (12/05/2020, 22:30) Like (8) Dislike (5) Reply
    Best driver in the BVI. Not condoning what he did by any means. But, his driving skills is tight.
    • st. thomas (13/05/2020, 10:33) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
      Yeah, dude driving skills is off the chain. That S^^t is not easy to do with out losing control of the vehicle.
  • wondering (13/05/2020, 09:00) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    I wonder how they intend to make the transition from weed being illegal to weed being legal.
  • ReX FeRal (13/05/2020, 10:57) Like (4) Dislike (0) Reply
    34 years old and acting the dam fool. Stupid.
    • baby (15/05/2020, 09:17) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply

      Rex FeRal ppl like you need to stop it u belive ppl want to go jail in this time hmm man have kids to feed ur @#$ had need to be in the car to see how it feel man with ur sh#*

      • Fran (15/05/2020, 15:49) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
        @ baby, so this man didn't know he had children to feed? You all are always using children to get sympathy. He and you know he had children when:
        He got into that unlicensed car
        He had drugs to sell
        He would not stop for a police siren
        He drove backwards for quite some distance which was scary and reckless
        Now tell me the part where he didn't want to go to jail or cared for his children?


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