The accused Vidall Browne turned himself in to authorities in Nevis.

The robbery had occurred at the Justice’s vacation home at the Golden Rock Inn, in Nevis on February 9, 2012.

According to reports coming from the Kittitian local media house Winn FM, “A masked intruder cut through a screen door of the Golden Rock Villa vacation home of Justice Stephen Breyer and demanded money. He reportedly made off with some $1000 in cash. The U.S. Supreme Court Judge, his wife Dr. Joanna Breyer, a renowned pediatric psychologist, and other two guests were unharmed in the incident.”

In an interview with Choice FM on Nevis, Police Commissioner of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mr. C G. Walwyn, stated that FBI agents were on the island but left when realizing the situation was being dealt with in a professional manner.

“They came here, they saw our potential, our capabilities and they left because they know we are capable of conducting a fair and impartial investigation, we have people who are trained, people who are trained by the FBI themselves, who work here in this police force, and once they came here they liaised with those officers, they went through the crime scene, they recognized that everything was being done according to protocol and they left,” said COP of St. Kitts and Nevis Mr. Walwyn.

During investigations, a press release was issued by the local police department stating that Nevisian Vidal K. Browne of Webbes Ground in Gingerland, Nevis, was being sought for the said crime. “Any person found assisting, comforting, receiving or otherwise relieving Browne will be prosecuted in accordance with the law,” read the press release coming from local police PRO.

US Justice Stephen Breyer

A week after the incident, Public Relation Officer of St. Kitts & Nevis, Mr. Stephen Hector, indicated that Mr. Vidal Browne turned himself in at the Basseterre Police Station, hours after his photograph was released to the public.
Head of Nevis’ Criminal Investigation Department, Sergeant Alonzo Carty gave statements stating that Browne was “a person of interest” in the robbery, and was to be questioned about the incident.

The Kittitian local online media also mentioned Justice Breyer has been visiting Nevis for over 16 years. “He sometimes visits the island twice per year, preferring to keep a low-profile and avoid the pomp and ceremony of official visits,” as quoted from the Kittitian local media house.

Following the incident, leader of the opposition party in Nevis, Mr. Mark Brantley, released statements saying, “I have been a longtime advocate of CCTV surveillance around the island and especially along the Nevis island main road. Nevis is blessed to some extent in that the islands road network permits law enforcement to mount an effective CCTV network. CCTV along the island main road will help law enforcement know who is on the road and at what times. To move on the island one must take the island main road if driving and, even if on foot or bicycle, might have to take the island main road at some point depending on the destination.”

Mr. Brantley went on to state, “I and many others would be happy to assist in raising funds for this initiative which can be housed in one of the new Community Centres in a secured way and manned 24/7. We can start with the island main road and Charlestown and then expand outwards to the village roads. Nevis cannot continue like this. I am eternally grateful that Justice Breyer was not hurt but perhaps this is the wakeup call that we need as a community which has become far too comfortable with reports of crime and criminality.”

The Nevisian opposition leader mentioned that Nevis is deeply troubled by the recent upsurge in home invasions occurring on the island which has caused the international media to now take notice.

International media such as CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, BBC, NBC and the New York Times covered the incident.