Two St. Croix men were arrested in unrelated incidents Friday on charges of possessing unlicensed firearms.
Eric Crump Jr., age 21, was arrested just before 11 p.m., according to the V.I. Police Department. Officers said Crump was found with a firearm in his possession while he was on Company Street in Christiansted.
At about 10:45 p.m. police reported seeing a vehicle run through a stop sign in the Times Square area in downtown Christiansted. They made a traffic stop and requested information on the vehicle, police said, and were informed that the vehicle was unlicensed and uninsured.
Police said the three occupants of the car were asked to exit and Crump, who was sitting in the back seat, was allegedly observed with a small black bag in his hand. Police conducted an authorized search of the car and personal belongings and allegedly found in Crump’s possession two small plastic baggies containing what was later field tested to be marijuana and a loaded black .25 caliber handgun inside the black bag he was alleged to be holding.
Crump was arrested and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $25,000.
Police said 23-year-old O’Dane Joseph was arrested after forensic tests positively linked him to a handgun that was found at his residence. He was arrested about 6 p.m. Friday.
Joseph’s arrest stemmed from an incident that occurred in August in which Joseph was suspected of possessing a firearm. Police requested a search and arrest warrant and executed the warrant at Joseph’s residence at the Harbor View apartments in September 2012. Joseph’s brother and father were present at the time.
Police confiscated two firearms, an armored bullet-resistant vest and a digital scale. Joseph’s brother, Dorell P. Joseph, was arrested that same day when officers allegedly observed him with a firearm in his hand. The other firearm, which was found in a bedroom, was sent for forensic analysis which later positively linked O’Dane Joseph to the weapon.
He was placed on a $25,000 bail and remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending his advice of rights hearing.
