CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man was arrested after police said he led them on a dangerous high-speed chase through downtown streets after refusing to pull over for a routine traffic stop on Friday afternoon.
Malachi A. Petersen, 21 of Smith Bay, was arrested about 5:52 p.m. Friday and charged with reckless endangerment, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop of a vehicle driven by Petersen in Estate Altona, but he refused to pull the vehicle over as lawfully ordered and attempted to evade the officers,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “Officers gave chase, eventually stopping the vehicle on Maude Proudfoot Drive and taking Petersen into custody.”
Bail for Petersen was set at $30,000. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearing.