FREDERIKSTED — Two St. Croix men were arrested after a being stopped at a traffic checkpoint on Saturday and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, authorities said.
According to the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD), at about 9:30 p.m. Saturday officers were conducting a traffic check point on Upper Love Road near the Anglican Church when officers stopped a silver four-door Honda Accord occupied by three males.
The driver was was unable to produce his drivers license and vehicle documents, the VIPD said. The other occupants of the vehicle were then asked to exit the vehicle.
During the process, 21-year-old Keshawnn Kirby was found to have a firearm on his person, which later proved not to be registered, according to the police report, and was detained.
A check of the vehicle’s interior found another firearm in the rear seat passenger, which 20-year-old Dequan J. J. Forde later admitted to possessing.
A check with the VIPD’s Firearms Bureau determined that neither Keshawnn Kirby nor Dequan J. J. Forde is authorized to carry or possess a firearm or ammunition in the territory of the Virgin Islands.
The two were placed under arrest and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Forde was arrested by U.S. Customs officials at the St. Croix airport in February for allegedly having 20 pounds of marijuana in his luggage.
Bail was set at $25,000 and, unable to post bail, both men were remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending their advice of rights hearing.
