A routine traffic stop and subsequent chase through an East End restaurant led to the arrest of five St. Thomas men early Saturday morning. During the chase, the men abandoned their vehicle and ran through the Latitude 18 bar and restaurant in an unsuccessful attempt to elude police officers in hot Pursuit.
The men were taken into custody on a dock near the restaurant shortly afterwards. Police sources said this weekend that Officers stopped the vehicle the five were in because of a "suspicion of illegal activity."
An illegal firearm was found in the vehicle during a search after the chase ended. The five were identified on the police blotter as Melvin Bruney of Smith Bay, Devan Boyd of Estate Tutu, Jose Squiabro of Oswald Harris Court, Winston Saddler of Estate Tutu and James Virgil of Paul M. Pearson Gardens Housing community.
Bail was set at $25,000 for each of the men, who were remanded to custody and are expected to make their initial court appearance later today in Territorial Court.
In other news from V.I. police, three persons were injured Sunday afternoon in an accident involving a police unit on Moravian Highway at the intersection near the Pueblo supermarket in Sub Base and Bellow's International. One of the injured, a police officer, was taken by ambulance to Roy L. Schneider Hospital after complaining of chest pains; the passenger of the other vehicle required almost two dozen stitches to close lacerations to both arms. The vehicle's driver suffered a cut to the head.
The accident occurred around 3 p.m. Sunday and blocked traffic for at least two blocks in either direction. One of the vehicles involved, a Suzuki Swift, had its entire left side smashed in; the police vehicle suffered a dent to the right front quarter-panel.
No citations had been issued as of Sunday night; an investigation is continuing.
