FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man who was drinking in a bar with a loaded gun in plain view was arrested by police on Thursday night, authorities said.
Vincente Pesante, 33, of Lagoon Street Apartments, was arrested at 11:12 p.m. Thursday and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
While the officers were patrolling on Market Street, Frederiksted, they were approached by a concerned citizen, who informed them of a Hispanic male in a bar located on Queen Street with a gun in his possession, according to the VIPD.
“The officers traveled to the bar and located the male, later identified as Pesante,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “In searching Pesante, officers found a loaded handgun in his possession. “
The officers made a check with the VIPD Firearms Bureau and found that Pesante is not licensed to possess a firearm in the territory. He was placed under arrest as a result, according to Derima.
Officers assigned to the Frederiksted Anti-Crime Initiative made the arrest of Pesante at the unnamed Frederiksted bar, police said.
Bail for Pesante was set at $50,000. He was not able to post bail, and was subsequently turned over to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections, pending his Advice of Rights hearing.
All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.