John McCarthy
CHARLOTTE AMALIE – A stolen vehicle was recovered and a St. Thomas man was charged as part of “Operation Clear Skies” this week, authorities said.
Ray Hendrickson Jr., 28, was arrested and charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The case began Tuesday when members of the VIPD’s “Operation Clear Skies” Task Force along with the Intel Unit were conducting surveillance in and around Oswald Harris Court and Alton Adams Drive when they encountered a red Toyota which was reported stolen on December 9, 2024, police said.
VIPD mug shot of Ray Hendrickson Jr., 28, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
The vehicle was traveling northbound on 8th Street area of Racetrack gas station when officers made a stop of the vehicle, according to police.
The driver, Ray Hendrickson Jr. stated to the officers at the time of the traffic stop that he was not the owner of the vehicle, police said.
“Officers contacted the owner of the vehicle who came on the scene and identified the vehicle and confirmed to the officers that the vehicle was indeed stolen,” VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said.
Hendrickson was read his Miranda Rights, booked and processed.
Bail for Hendrickson was set at $25,000.00. Unable to post bail, he was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the St. Thomas jail.
Hendrickson is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing at Superior Court in Charlotte Amalie.
