Officers from the VIPD Special Operations Bureau on St. Thomas arrested Shamoi Bell, 20, of Estate Altona on Sunday and charged him with possession of an unlicensed firearm, the department announced.
According to the police report, shortly after midnight Sunday the officers were conducting random traffic checks on Smith Bay road and stopped a vehicle containing two people who were not wearing seat belts.
Officers detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, and both occupants were asked to exit. Police dogs confirmed the presence of marijuana inside the vehicle.
When police searched one male, later identified as Bell, a loaded .45-caliber firearm fell from his pants leg. Officers also found a loaded, extended magazine and two dime bags of marijuana in Bell’s pockets.
Bell is not licensed to carry a firearm in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Police said additional charges may be pending in this case.
Bail for Bell was set at $25,000, and he was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending further court action.
