Jan.16, 2007 — Employees and patrons of Banco Popular in Orange Grove, Christiansted, were evacuated Tuesday afternoon because of a reported bomb threat.
The V.I. Police Department and bomb squad unit were called out to the location at approximately 1:30 p.m., according to police spokesperson Lt. Thomas Hannah.
The units were working on a call from the bank stating someone had placed a call that an explosive device was at the location.
Hannah said officers checked the bank for the bomb and found nothing. The building was cleared of any threat at approximately 2:45 p.m.
During the police search, the entrance to the bank was blocked by a patrol car. A police officer stood nearby, piquing the curiosity of residents who walked or drove past the scene.
The bank, located next to Kentucky Fried Chicken, is also near the Department of Personnel, as well as other commercial establishments.
Hannah said the police are working under the assumption that some "unknown individual" placed a call to the bank reporting the device. VIPD, according to Hannah, is currently working alongside Innovative Telephone to determine the origin of the call.
Hannah said the perpetrator would "feel the full brunt of the law" for their actions. If found, the caller could face up to 10 years in jail and a $25,000 fine, not including the cost of having VIPD and the bomb squad dispatched to the scene.
Hannah said the investigation is currently ongoing and there has been no progress at this time in locating the anonymous caller.
Banco Popular has two branches on St. Croix — one in Orange Grove and another in the Sunny Isle Shopping Center. The bank has been in business since the late 1800s and has branches across North America and the Caribbean.
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