Increased traffic stops during the weekend netted five arrests for gun possession on St. Thomas. Three dangerous weapons were confiscated during the weekend as a result of the initiative.
Police arrested Contant Knowles housing community residents Alfred Maduro Jr. and Rashied J. Chesterfield, both 19, at about 4:05 a.m. Friday. Police said Maduro and Chesterfield were traveling in a Toyota Corolla at a high rate of speed and failed to stop at a stop sign. When police stopped the vehicle and conducted an inspection they observed two weapons in the vehicle.
Chesterfield was held on a $50,000 bail, while Maduro was held on a 25,000 bail. Both were remanded to custody pending their advice of rights hearing.
At about 11 p.m. Friday, police arrested 27-year-old Elijah Douglas of Estate Altona, 27-year-old Premran Doobay of Estate Anna’s Fancy, and 26-year-old Jefferson Maloney of Estate Fortuna. The three were charged with constructive possession of a firearm and constructive possession of a controlled substance.
Police made a traffic stop on the vehicle containing the three suspects and observed several packaged dime bags of marijuana and a separate shopping bag containing marijuana. A Smith & Wesson 9 mm handgun was also confiscated during the traffic stop.
On Wednesday Police Commissioner Novelle E. Francis Jr. announced that territory-wide driver’s license and vehicle registration traffic checkpoints will be conducted during July at undisclosed locations on all three islands.
The traffic checkpoints are conducted to identify and stop people driving without valid licenses as well as educate the public on the dangers of driving without a driver’s license.
The heightened traffic stops also identify persons driving with illegal weapons and drugs, the commissioner said.
