CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A man was arrested Friday after police say he fled from a traffic stop into “the bush” in St. Thomas.
Stephan Joseph, 21, was arrested and charged with disobeying a lawful order and delaying and obstructing, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The case began at 6:00 p.m. on March 28, 2025, when members of the Virgin Islands Police Department Special Operations Bureau were conducting traffic enforcement on Elmo D. Roebuck Drive, according to the VIPD.
PRETTY IN PINK: VIPD mug shot of Stephan Joseph, 21, of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
At that time, officers observed a green Nissan Altima being operated by Stephan Joseph with no license plate affixed to the front bumper of the vehicle, police said.
Officers initiated a traffic stop and while approaching the vehicle to advise Joseph of the traffic infraction, he immediately made a U-turn in the middle of the road and fled at a high rate of speed, according to police.
Officers conducted an inspection of the area and shortly thereafter located the abandoned vehicle, police said.
Joseph was observed by an officer exiting the vehicle and fleeing into bushes in an unknown direction, according to police.
The Nissan Altima was towed and transported to the Alexander Farrelly Justice Complex
where officers conducted an Inventory search to secure any items of value belonging to the
registered owner, police said.
During the taking of the official police inventory, Stephan Joseph’s identification was located inside the vehicle, according to police.
Officers recognized Joseph from a previous matter and had knowledge of his residence, police said.
Officers traveled to Joseph’s residence where he was located and placed under arrest, according to police.
Joseph was read his Miranda Rights, booked and processed. His bail was set at $1,000.00.
Unable to post bail, he was transferred to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections at the St. Thomas jail.
Joseph is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing in Superior Court in Charlotte Amalie.
