CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Two people are in custody today after a stolen rental vehicle was moved from St. John to St. Thomas.
Amie Viera, 40, was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, grand larceny and
possession of a stolen vehicle, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Richie Welsh, 60, was arrested and charged with aiding & abetting grand larceny and related charges, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Amie Viera, 40, of St. John.
The case began at 1:49 p.m. on June 20, 2024, when a patrol unit was dispatched to the Marketplace near St. John Hardware in reference to a stolen vehicle in Cruz Bay, police said.
The responding officers met with the complainant who stated that she parked her rental vehicle, a gray Kia Soul, with a small terrier dog inside, at the upper parking lot in front of St. John Hardware, according to police.
The complainant also indicated that she left Amie Vieira, who was later identified as one of the suspects, inside of the vehicle, police said.
The complainant went on to state that she walked to the nearby store to pick up food, however upon her return the vehicle was removed from the area, according to police.
VIPD mug shot of Richie Welsh, 60, of St. Thomas.
On Friday, June 21st, the stolen vehicle was observed around the bottom of Black Point Hill on St.
Thomas, with two occupants inside. Amie Vieira and Richie Welsh, police said.
Viera and Welsh were detained and transported to the Criminal Investigation Bureau, located at the Richard Callwood Command, according to police.
Bail for Vieira and Welsh was set at $25,000.00 each. Unable to post bail, the two suspects were jailed in St. Thomas.
They were booked, processed and remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending their advice-of-rights hearings.