CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A St. Thomas man who took a knife to a movie theater manager who refused to give him a cash refund after a power outage was arrested last weekend.
Roniel Allenbert, Sr. was arrested and charged with first-degree attempted robbery, the Virgin Islands Police Department said late Thursday night.
The Caribbean Cinemas’ manager in Estate Donoe reported an incident inside the movie theater involving Roniel Allembert, Sr. about 2:21 p.m. on December 11, 2022, according to the VIPD.
On December 18, 2022, at approximately 1:20 p.m., VIPD detectives contacted the manager, who
explained that on December 10, 2022, at about 11:20 p.m., a power outage at the theater caused
the movies to stop playing.
Allembert exited the theater studio, contacted the manager, and demanded his money back, police said. The manager informed Allembert that he would be given a receipt to return another day whenever he chose to come back.
“Allembert then became irate, began yelling, and entered the concession area without permission,
where he armed himself with two knives and approached the manager inside the concession area,” VIPD Communications Director Glen Dratte said. “He was ordered to leave but refused and continued making threats until he was given back his $20.00. He then threw the knives into a sink and left without further incident.”
On Sunday, March 12, 2023, at 11:39 a.m., Allembert was present with his attorney and turned himself in. He was arrested, read his Miranda Rights, and declined to provide further statements.
Bail for Allembert was set at $37,500.00. The suspect, through his legal counsel, was granted 10 percent of the total bail, and was released pending an advice-of-rights hearing.