Four men were arrested Friday morning on St. Croix in an operation staged by members of the V.I. Police Department’s Special Response Team, according to a police statement.
SRT officers, detectives and other VIPD personnel executed search and arrest warrants on several locations early Friday, the department said. Police arrested four men and confiscated two handguns as a result of the warrants, which were related to a first-degree assault that occurred Feb. 11 in Estate Richmond.
Two of the suspects currently have weapon possession charges before the court.
Named in the warrant and arrested were Secori A. Elmes, 24, Michael Boyce Jr., 26, and Anthony Schneider, 21. Also arrested was 27-year-old Levar K. Pogson. The four suspects live in Estate Richmond, Christiansted.
Police said Elmes, Boyce and Schneider were positively identified as the persons who conspired to commit attempted murder and discharged several shots at a male victim, striking him at least twice in the back. Based on the results of the investigation, detectives requested the warrants and executed them on four properties.
Elmes and Pogson were taken into custody in the Water Gut Homes. A 9 mm Beretta handgun was confiscated from that location. Boyce was taken into custody in La Grande Princess and Schneider was arrested at Estate Work and Rest. A .40 caliber Glock handgun was also confiscated from that location.
No one was arrested at the fourth location, the Harbor View apartments.
Elmes, Boyce and Schneider were held on $100,000 bail each and remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending further court action. Pogson was placed on $10,000 bail after police found him in possession of marijuana.
St. Croix acting Police Chief James Parris congratulated all the officers and forensic technicians who participated in the search and arrests.
“The three suspects were considered armed and dangerous,” Parris said. “Schneider is presently out on bail and awaiting trial for a robbery first -degree and possession of an unlicensed firearm that was committed in August of 2011, and Elmes is awaiting sentencing on a previous assault first and gun possession charge. Pogson is also awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to a previous drug possession charge.
"These suspects are facing serious jail time. Individuals such as these can be very volatile. The officers carried out the arrests without any injuries or loss of life thanks to their professionalism and training."
Parris issued a warning to individuals who think they have gotten away with their criminal activities because they have not yet been arrested.
“Do not be mistaken, your days of freedom are numbered," he said. "And if you are on bail awaiting trial, walk the straight and narrow path or else you will find yourself back in front of the courts facing even more jail time.”
