Damion Bell, 22, was arrested Wedesday and charged with murder in the death of Louis Roldan, whose body was found in a burning car July 3.
The arrest was announced by St. Croix Police Chief Oakland Benta.
Accordng to Benta, Bell, a resident of Anna’s Hope, was arrested by officers from the Major Crimes Unit at 2:45 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant charging him with murder. The suspect is being held at Golden Grove Correctional Facility in lieu of $1 million bail.
Along with the charge of first-degree murder, Bell also faces charges of first-degree arson, first- and third-degree assault, first-degree reckless endangerment, unauthorized possession of a firearm and unauthorized possession of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence.
The chief noted that Bell was already on probation for a federal gun charge.
The body of Louis Roldan was found Saturday, July 3, in a burning car which was registered to a relative of his. Police were called to the scene by residents of the Ralph de Chabert housing community, who had reported gunshots in the area.
The investigation led police to discover and seize a cache of weapons, ammunition and drugs in an abandoned house in Estate Richmond. No arrests were made during that raid, but Benta and Police Commissioner Novelle Francis said at the time that police had suspects and expected to make arrests soon.
In announcing Bell’s arrest, Benta thanked the citizens of St. Croix who had provided information to police.
"You have proven yourselves time and time again," he said.
On Jan. 29, Roldan was convicted as part of a police extortion case. Benta has refused to speculate whether the extortion case had anything to do with Roldan’s murder or whether Roldan had any prior connection to the men police believe killed him.
