CHARLOTTE AMALIE — Alert police officers doing a routine St. Thomas building inspection stopped a nearby motorist and allegedly discovered illegal drugs on him, authorities said.
Acio Richards, 28 of Mahogany Estate and Annas Retreat was arrested at 9:33 p.m. Saturday and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“Officers were conducting an inspection in the vicinity of the Altona Professional Building when they conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle operated by Richards,” VIPD spokesman Toby Derima said. “During the traffic stop, officers recovered controlled substances in the vehicle and on Richards’ person, and he was arrested as a result.”
The VIPD’s Special Operations Bureau made the arrest, according to Derima.
Bail for Richards was set at $15,000. Unable to post bail, he was remanded to the custody of the Virgin Islands Bureau of Corrections (BOC) pending an advice-of-rights hearing.