Got TIPS or BREAKING NEWS? Please call 1-284-442-8000 direct/can also WhatsApp same number or Email ALL news to:newsvino@outlook.com;                               ads call 1-284-440-6666

USVI police arrest multiple individuals on gun possession charges

From top left: Eustache Emmanuel and Ernest Stevens. From bottom left: Kamal Thomas and Guillermo Rivera Alberto. Photo: VIPD
VI CONSORTIUM

CHARLOTTE AMALIE, St Thomas, USVI- The [US] Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) 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 US Virgin Islands (USVI) 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 VIPD operation on St Croix, USVI 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. M. Alberto, 23, was arrested and charged for unauthorised possession of a firearm. He was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advise-of-rights hearing.

12 Responses to “USVI police arrest multiple individuals on gun possession charges”

  • police (01/01/2017, 13:16) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    One has tortola connection
    • Diego (17/10/2020, 18:37) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
      Is this the same Kamal Thomas that murdered Jamie Cockayne in 2007?
  • police (01/01/2017, 13:19) Like (4) Dislike (1) Reply
    Good Job USVI need's to be done here also
  • Menelek (01/01/2017, 14:33) Like (9) Dislike (0) Reply
    All dem heads need to be trimmed to bald heads!! Rasta nah mixup in dem tings - all ah dem face screw and them hearts
  • lntel officer (01/01/2017, 14:53) Like (0) Dislike (1) Reply
    @police, well at least u could tell us which one. Thanks for the info.
  • The Judge (01/01/2017, 14:55) Like (5) Dislike (0) Reply
    This is the same strategy the police in the BVI have to use to keep crime low. You have to have stop and search on a continuous basis. If people know that police are out checking they would stay at home. At the end the public wins because someone life could be saved. We really have a problem with the strategy the police here are using. Police don't patrol no more at nights. We as a people can't leave this up to no Governor or Commissioner of police. None of these guys are from here. The thirteen elected representatives are responsible to us to make sure the all of us are safe. Its really sad to see that none of them are not doing anything about crime in this little Nation. This place is going to hell and no-one can't say lets change the coast we are travelling. With all the arm robberies that continues to cripple this place where is major plan to defeat these criminals? I am expecting that this Government would see it fit to come up with a plan to make visitors and locals feel safe in a country that we spend millions of dollars to tell the world that this is paradise. Shame on this Government.
  • chad (01/01/2017, 15:12) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    It must be the hair...just saying. All imitation Dreads.
  • COME HERE (01/01/2017, 18:09) Like (1) Dislike (0) Reply
    Please people what the USVI officers are doing now is what the BVIs Police use to do and as a result the streets of the BVIS use to be safe. I remember when the BVIS Police recovered at least 4 firearms in one night and arrested 4 guys from St. Thomas. The officers were out and civilian gave them assistance by giving them information. But my people, some of you are riding in the same vehicle, sleeping in the same house with the criminals that have the guns but then want to blame the Police. Come on one hand can not clap. The Police do you all complain, the Police don't do you all complain. So what must really be done. However I will like to the those officers that like to sit on their lazy back side and criticise and not do anything, that they must get up from their lazy ASS and start to work. Some of them in the force for over 10 years and has never a case to court as yet. That's laziness. Regardless of where those officers are from thats the height of laziness.
  • now (02/01/2017, 16:09) Like (0) Dislike (0) Reply
    All have locks
  • Well Sah (03/01/2017, 12:13) Like (3) Dislike (0) Reply
    Not one had a bible and them ah say them ah rasta


Create a comment


Create a comment

Disclaimer: Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) welcomes your thoughts, feedback, views, bloggs and opinions. However, by posting a blogg you are agreeing to post comments or bloggs that are relevant to the topic, and that are not defamatory, liable, obscene, racist, abusive, sexist, anti-Semitic, threatening, hateful or an invasion of privacy. Violators may be excluded permanently from making contributions. Please view our declaimer above this article. We thank you in advance for complying with VINO's policy.

Follow Us On

Disclaimer: All comments posted on Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) are the sole views and opinions of the commentators and or bloggers and do not in anyway represent the views and opinions of the Board of Directors, Management and Staff of Virgin Islands News Online and its parent company.