FREDERIKSTED — A second St. Croix suspect has been arrested after a man covered in blood and in handcuffs said that he was kidnapped and beaten by two men one year ago.
Lawton Prince, 37, of Christiansted, was arrested and charged with false imprisonment-kidnapping, first-degree assault, mayhem, unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and third-degree assault, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
On November 14, 2021, at 8:01 p.m., a concerned citizen reported to the 911 Emergency Call Center that an unknown male individual was at her residence seeking help, covered in blood, and handcuffed. The victim told the homeowner that he was kidnapped and beaten, according to the VIPD.
Prince was present at Police Headquarters at #45 Mars Hill with his legal representative when he surrendered to authorities without incident. He was placed under arrest pursuant to an arrest warrant signed by Superior Court Judge Yolan Ross on November 4.
Bail for Prince was set at $75,000.00. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility pending an advice-of-rights hearing.
Larson Prince, Lawton’s brother, was arrested November 14 for his role in the same alleged kidnapping torture of a St. Croix man about one year ago.
