FREDERIKSTED — A driver who ran a stop sign in St. Croix was found to be in possession of drugs and a loaded gun, authorities said.
Shakeem Gilbert, 22, was arrested and charged with carrying of a firearm openly or concealed and possession or sale of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
Members of the Special Operations Bureau Tactical and K9 Team were on patrol in the Grove and Mutual Homes community on Tuesday when they spotted a gray Acura vehicle didn’t come to a complete stop at a posted stop sign, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Shakeem Gilbert, 22, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands.
A traffic stop was immediately conducted, police said.
As officers approached the vehicle, they instructed the driver to roll down all the windows to the vehicle due to the windows being heavily tinted, according to police.
The officers immediately smelled a strong odor of what appeared to be marijuana coming from inside of the vehicle, police said.
Officers then observed in plain view several burned marijuana cigarettes along with drug paraphernalia, according to police.
The driver and passenger were each ordered out of the vehicle, police said. The driver was then advised that a search would be conducted of his vehicle.
A search was conducted and as a result, officers recovered PT 145 PRO .45 caliber handgun with a loaded magazine inserted in the handgun and one live chambered round, according to police.
“A large amount of marijuana was also recovered from inside of the vehicle,” VIPD spokeswoman Kishma Chichester said.
The driver, Gilbert, claimed possession of the unlicensed firearm, according to Chichester. But he does
not have a license to possess or carry a firearm in the Virgin Islands, she said.
Gilbert was advised of his Miranda Rights, booked and processed. His bail was set at $50,000.00.
Unable to post bail, he was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the John A. Bell Adult Correctional Facility in Golden Grove.
Gilbert is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing in Superior Court.
