CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Officers arrested a suspect on an illegal gun charge after he led them on a car chase through the streets of St. Thomas on Monday afternoon, authorities said.
Akeem Elms, 33, was arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Police were conducting traffic stops on Frenchman’s Bay Road near Havensight at about 5:20 p.m., according to the VIPD.
While initiating traffic stops, a gray Toyota Corolla immediately exited the lane of traffic, turned around and drove off in the opposite direction, police said.
Officers immediately responded to the fleeing vehicle who was now entering the oncoming lane of traffic trying to evade the officers who were in pursuit, according to police.
“The driver entered the Havensight area at a high rate of speed ignoring fellow motorist and
pedestrians alike, as he ran through red lights headed towards the area of Yacht Haven Grand,” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said.
Officers were able to pass the suspect as well as position their police vehicles behind the suspects
in order to cordon off the area area and slow him down, according to Dratte.
The suspect was able to maneuver his vehicle into the entrance of Pearson Gardens where he drove
towards the area of the basketball courts., police said. He then jumped out of the vehicle with a bag in his possession and ran towards a short cut that led towards the area of Charlotte Amalie High School.
Officers pursued the suspect on foot towards 6th street where the suspect tossed the bag he was
carrying into the residence of an unknown citizen, Dratte said. The unknown citizen upon seeing the bag enter their residence immediately kicked the bag back outside where officers was able to retrieve it.
“The suspect continued to cut in between homes until he made it to 8th street where he was
apprehended,” the police spokesman said.
“In the bag discarded by the suspect was a firearm belonging to the alleged girlfriend of the suspect
who stated that the weapon was stolen,” Dratte added. “An extended clip and rounds for the weapon were also recovered.”
Bail for Elms was set at $237,500.00. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending an advice-of-rights hearing.