John McCarthy
KINGSHILL — A search warrant executed by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Special Operations Bureau at a unit in Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion turned up an illegal weapon and ammunition early this morning.
Obala F. Joseph, 42, was arrested and charged with carrying of a firearm openly or concealed and possession of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said this afternoon.
The search warrant was executed at 4:30 a.m. at an apartment at Walter I.M. Hodge Pavilion in connection to a homicide that occurred earlier this year, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Obala F. Joseph, 42, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
“While executing the search warrant, a firearm and ammunition were found in the home of Obala F. Joseph,” VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said. “Joseph voluntarily admitted that the firearm was his.”
A firearm record check revealed that Joseph does not have a license to carry a firearm or possess
ammunition in this territory, according to Chichester.
Joseph was read his Miranda Rights, booked and processed.
Bail for Joseph was set at $50,000.00. Unable to post bail, he was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the Golden Grove prison.
Joseph is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing at Superior Court in Kingshill on December 16.
