John McCarthy
CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A woman is facing numerous charges after drugs and a firearm were found inside a vehicle that had failed to stop at a red light on Back Street in St. Thomas late Friday night.
Jahzerah Lewis, 23, was arrested and charged with constructive possession of a firearm, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and issued a citation for simple possession of marijuana and, a traffic citation for failure to stop at a red light, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Officers were in the process of conducting an inspection in Savan at 10:30 p.m. Friday.
While driving east on Wimmelskaft Gade (Back Street) and Commandant Gade, officers observed a red Nissan versa with license plate number TGP-296, traveling at a high rate of speed, and refusing to stop at a red light, according to the VIPD.
Officers then initiated a traffic stop of the driver and ordered the driver of the vehicle to step out of the vehicle with their Driver’s License, Vehicle Registration and Proof of Insurance, the VIPD said. The driver stepped out of the vehicle and during the process the officer observed an elevated rear seat from its affixed position.
“A pat down was conducted of the driver, along with a seventeen-year-old male minor for officer safety,” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said. “While officers were conducting a search of the vehicle, they discovered a Model APK Cal. .380 Handgun underneath the back seat, and a small quantity of marijuana.”
The driver Lewis was then advised of her rights and placed under arrest, police said.
Lewis was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections after failing to post ($50,000.00) Fifty Thousand Dollars in Bail.
The minor male was placed in protective custody with Juvenile Bureau Unit detectives for constructive possession of a firearm and advised of his rights in the presence of his parents, according to Dratte.
