CHARLOTTE AMALIE — A routine background check on a homeless woman arrested in St. Thomas for “another incident” revealed that she was a wanted fugitive from justice in Florida, authorities said.
Vennessa Blanco, 31, of Monroe County, Florida, was arrested at 2:20 p.m. Monday and charged with being a fugitive from justice, the Virgin Islands Police Department said.
“The Criminal Investigation Bureau detective/U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force officer was notified by the Richard Callwood Command patrol unit of a fugitive from justice female, later identified as one Vennessa Blanco, who was in their custody for another incident,” the VIPD said. “The patrol officer stated that after Ms. Blanco’s National Crime Information Center (NCIC) background check came back as wanted in the State of Florida, he notified the CIB detective/U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force officer.”
The CIB detective contacted Monroe County police officials who confirmed that there was “a full extradition active warrant for Ms. Blanco.”
“As per active warrant, Ms. Blanco is wanted in the State of Florida for failing to appear for a possession of cocaine offense on November 10, 2020 and that the State of Florida has a full extradition warrant for her arrest,” the VIPD said.
Blanco was then turned over to the custody of the CIB/U.S. Marshal Fugitive Task Force officer “where she was re-arrested at the Richard Callwood Command under the fugitive from justice charge.”
“Ms. Blanco was booked, processed and turned over to the Bureau of Corrections pending her extradition hearing,” police said.
Bail is not a possibility for Blanco because she is a fugitive from justice.
The news of Blanco’s arrest was first posted to Twitter by the VIPD at 6:54 a.m. today.
All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this report are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
