June 6, 2007 — Over the past three weeks, an initiative designed to take guns off the streets has led to a series of arrests and the recovery of nine guns, a bulletproof vest and several small quantities of marijuana.
The most recent arrests occurred around 6:10 a.m. Wednesday on St. Thomas, according to a Police news release. Officers involved in the initiative arrested seven men after executing a search warrant on an apartment located in the Kirwan Terrace area. Two firearms were recovered at the scene and the individuals involved — Elliot Hodge, Makeem Ubiles, Curtis Baxter, Jamel Niles, Shaun Smith, Leron Xaviere and Kareem Sebastian — were taken into custody and charged with possession of a firearm and drug paraphernalia/marijuana.
A search warrant executed Wednesday on another Kirwan Terrace apartment also led to the arrest of Neville Potter, who has been wanted by the VIPD on assault charges. Potter's companion, Helen Brewley, was also arrested and charged with accessory after and fact after attempting to prevent Potter's arrest.
Other arrests include:
— May 26: Jasim Lewis was arrested on St. John and charged with possession of a firearm and first-degree assault. At the time, Lewis was found to be in possession of a .22-caliber firearm;
— June 2: Shakeem Clarke was arrested on St. Thomas and charged with possession of a firearm and ammunition. Clarke was found to be in possession of a .38 revolver; and
— June 3: St. Thomas resident Akeem Corrapse was arrested and charged with possession of firearm and ammunition along with reckless endangerment.
Other guns taken off the street during the past three weeks include two nine-millimeter handguns, a .45-caliber pistol and a .40-caliber gun.
The initiative, which started late last month, is a joint effort of the VIPD’s Special Operations Bureau, Project Safe Streets, and HIDTA (High Intensity Drug Traffic Area). Also assisting in the efforts are the V.I. Superior Court, V.I. Port Authority, Licensing and Consumer Affairs and the V.I. Lottery Office.
Local residents have also been providing information, which has helped in solving crimes and conducting other gun-related initiatives, according to Milton Petersen Sr., acting chief of Police for the St. Thomas-St. John-Water Island district.
“Solving crime is a collaborative effort,” Petersen said in the news release. “The citizens and the Virgin Islands Police Department can all bring about a change, make a difference and continue to take guns off the streets.”
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