Police officers responding to a call of a bank robbery in Estate Orange Grove captured a 16-year-old suspect five minutes after arriving. What tipped them off? According to the V.I. Police Department, it was the dye from an exploding dye pack all over his hands and clothes.
According to police, a lone suspect walked into the Banco Popular branch in the Orange Grove Shopping Center and gave the teller a note demanding money. The teller gave the suspect a bag of cash and the suspect left the bank.
No weapon was displayed and no one was injured inside the bank, police said.
The 911 Emergency Dispatch Center received the call at 11:21 a.m. Friday and sent the message. At 11:29 a.m. police officers reported to 911 that a suspect was in custody.
Police identified the suspect as a 16-year-old minor. Once outside the bank the suspect allegedly ran toward Pueblo and into the John F. Kennedy housing community and was immediately apprehended by police officers that’d saturated the area after they received the call.
Police said they saw the victim running and noticed ink or dye consistent with the dye packs used at banks on his hands and clothes. The suspect also had money in his possession that was stained with dye and the note that police said was handed to the teller by the suspect.
The suspect was held at the Youth Rehabilitation Center pending his appearance in Juvenile Court.
Police are investigating if the suspect was working with others in this robbery. The case remains under active investigation.
St. Croix Chief of Police James Parris applauded the officers who responded to the scene and immediately took action, fanning out in the surrounding area. This suspect was captured in less than 10 minutes and the cash was recovered.
The capture, arrest and recovery were part of a seamless process with everyone performing at a professional level, Parris said. He also thanked residents of the nearby areas for staying calm while police were canvassing the area.
