Last weekend during stepped-up police patrols, VIPD officers on St. Thomas confiscated a firearm and drugs, made two arrests, enforced curfew laws and tackled street racing on the public highways, according to a release from the V.I. Police Department.
While thousands attended the annual Miracle on Main Street Saturday, police directed traffic and conducted vehicle and foot patrols to ensure the safety of residents and visitors, the news release said.
Following the event, officers began a curfew initiative at Caribbean Rock nightclub in Havensight and ordered almost 200 minors to leave the nightclub. V.I. law prohibits minors from entering an establishment that serves alcohol.
Police held at least 20 of those minors in custody, including a 9-year-old, later releasing them into to their parents’ custody.
“If in the future, those children are found in violation of the curfew, their parents will be arrested,” St. Thomas/Water Island Deputy Police Chief Dwayne DeGraff said.
“You never know what dangers or criminal activities may be lurking in certain areas. Please help us to help you preserve our most precious asset – the young people of our Virgin Islands.”
While officers were clearing out the nightclub and surrounding area, they acted on a tip of a suspect carrying a firearm. That suspect, later identified as 18-year-old Roland Murrell Jr., was arrested at about 1:50 a.m. and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm. Bail was set at $25,000.
Early Sunday morning, DUI traffic enforcement checkpoints stopped approximately 250 vehicles. Vehicles found with various traffic violations were either ticketed or towed. Spencer Sutton, 51, was arrested at about 12:10 a.m. Sunday on the Weymouth Rhymer Highway and charged with driving under the influence. His bail was set at $300.
Officers aggressively patrolled several neighborhoods and confiscated marijuana plants, packaged marijuana, scales and other drug paraphernalia.
Officers also tackled drag-racing issues in Estate Contact by preventing a crowd of drivers from racing in the area.
Police converged near Mandela Circle around 4 a.m. When Club Jaguars closed, shots were heard fired from the Paul M. Pearson Gardens housing community. Officers inspected the area and found 13 spent casings on the ground and a firearm hidden in a meter box. The shell casings and firearm were of different calibers, police said, and they continue to investigate this matter.
DeGraff said the stepped-up patrol will continue on St. Thomas through the New Year.
