FREDERIKSTED — A St. Croix man was arrested for impaired driving near a church in Grove Place on Saturday night, authorities said.
Ervin Christophe, 65, was arrested and charged with driving under the influence (DUI), the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
The case began at 8:11 p.m. on April 12, 2025, when the Patrol Bureau responded to a two-car accident that occurred on Plessen Road near the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Grove Place, according to the VIPD.
VIPD mug shot of Ervin Christophe, 65, of St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
When officers arrived on the scene, they met with both drivers who were in involved in the accident, police said.
The first driver stated that he was traveling south, and Christophe was heading north when he observed Christophe swerve into his lane, at which time he tried to maneuver out of his path; but, Christophe still collided into his vehicle, according to police.
One officer stated that they smelled a strong odor of alcohol coming from Christophe’s breath, police said.
When asked if he drank any alcoholic beverages, Christopher stated that “he had two bottles of Heineken beer approximately one and a half hours earlier, according to police.
The officers observed that Christophe’s eyes were glassy and watery, his speech was
slurred, and he staggered as he walked, police said.
Christophe was administered a field sobriety test which he failed, according to police,
The suspect was immediately detained and transported to the Wilbur Francis Command where he consented to a Intoximeter and blew above the legal limits, police said.
Following Christophe’s arrest, he voluntarily surrendered his Virgin Islands driver’s license in lieu of
bail.
He is scheduled for an advice-of-rights hearing in Superior Court at Kingshill on Monday.
