CHRISTIANSTED — Detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau and officers in the Special Operations Bureau conducted Operation “Lock Them Up” today executing arrest warrants on three St. Croix men in separate cases.
Rolando Gautier, 37, of Peter’s Rest was arrested at 5:18 a.m. today and charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm, discharging or aiming of a firearm, and possession of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Officers were dispatched to Gautier’s residence for a report of shots fired in the area on December 16, 2019. Further investigation by detectives led to a Superior Court bench warrant being issued for Gautier’s arrest. When the arrest warrant was executed, officers discovered two unlicensed firearms, adding charges to the arrest, according to the VIPD.
Other arrests effected under the VIPD’s “Lock Them Up” sweep today were:
- Heriberto Ramos, 30, of Castle Burke, was arrested at 5:18 a.m. today and charged with third-degree assault, unauthorized possession of a firearm, discharging or aiming of a firearm, brandishing, exhibiting or using a deadly weapon, simple assault & battery-domestic violence. The arrest stemmed from a January 8 incident, when two females reported that Ramos brandished a firearm and assaulted them with the firearm. An arrest warrant was obtained for the incident.
- Nazari J. Hazel, 20, of Croixville Apartments, was arrested at 10:25 a.m. today and charged with first-degree reckless endangerment, aiming or discharging of a firearm, unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. Hazel was identified as the individual who discharged a firearm in the Croixville Apartments area on November 11, 2019.
Bail for Gautier was set at $25,000, bail for Ramos was set at $30,000. Bail for Hazel was set at $25,000. Ramos was not eligible for bail under the territory’s domestic violence statutes.
Unable to post bail, each man was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections (BOC) pending advice-of-rights hearings.