V.I. Housing Authority Police seized a semi-automatic weapon from Hanef Abiff, 20, of Oswald Harris Court when Abiff attempted to run away from the officers.
A Housing Authority release Tuesday described the weapon, a Glock, as "the type legally used only by law enforcement officers."
Abiff, who was arrested Friday and is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail, faces stiff criminal penalties. Additionally, he and his family could be evicted, the authority's release said.
The Housing Authority Police said they were responding to a report of an assault when they came upon Abiff, who was attempting to hide the weapon.
Housing Authority Police have the same status as territorial police and can enforce federal housing regulations, according to Conrad E. Francois, VIHA executive director.
Francois said the Housing Police have confiscated many weapons as well as drugs in the three years they have been operating under the command of Chief Fitzroy Williams.
The initiative to keep housing communities safe by eliminating guns, drugs and criminal activities is a joint effort between VIHA and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
