FREDERIKSTED — Police have pointed to another success of the Virgin Islands anti-crime initiative taking illegal firearms off the streets of St. Croix.
Sylvester Christopher, 21, of Sion Farm, was arrested at 8:11 p.m. Saturday and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession or sale of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Officers assigned to the Virgin Islands Crime Initiative conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle in the vicinity of Hannah’s Rest Plaza, according to the VIPD.
“During the traffic stop, the passenger in the vehicle, identified as Christopher, was found with a loaded firearm on his person,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “After verifying that Christopher did not have a license to carry a firearm, he was placed under arrest.”
Bail for Christopher was set at $50,000. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearing.
St. Croix District Police Chief Sidney Elskoe commended the officers of the Virgin Islands Crime Initiative for taking another firearm off the streets.
“We will continue to find and confiscate these illegal guns, and arrest those who possess them,” Chief Elskoe said.
All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this news article are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.