Police on St. Croix arrested one man and are searching for another who remains at large after leading police on a car chase in Estate Catherine’s Rest following a carjacking Friday in Christiansted.
At about 8:45 a.m. Friday the owner of the car reported to police that she was approached in Estate Richmond by two armed men who demanded her vehicle. She gave up her keys and walked away uninjured. Police issued an all=points bulletin and the vehicle was spotted and stopped by officers in Estate Catherine’s Rest at about 11 a.m.
When officers approached the vehicle, one of the suspects, later identified as Kareem Louis, got out of the vehicle and attempted to grab a gun which was tucked in his waist. Officers fired at him, and the suspect was taken into custody unharmed.
Two minors, who were inside the vehicle, ran frm the scene.
Another suspect who remained inside the vehicle sped away from the scene and police pursued. During the car chase the suspect lost control of the vehicle, crashed into a bushy area and fled on foot into the bushes.
Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives, officers from Ancilmo Marshall Command, Special Operations and K9 searched for the suspect. Dogs were used to track the suspect; however after several hours the search was called off and the suspect remains at large.
Police arrested Kareem Louis, age 18 of Estate Richmond, shortly before 5 p.m. Friday and charged him with first-degree robbery and carjacking. An illegal weapon and ammunition were confiscated during the arrest. Bail for Louis was set at $75,000 and he was remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending his hearing.
The minors who fled the scene were later brought into the police station by their parents and arrested.
St. Croix Police Chief Christopher Howell confirmed that Kareem Louis and the second suspect are believed to have been involved in the Wednesday armed robbery that occurred on the Christiansted Boardwalk.
According to departmental policy, Howell requested that Internal Affairs agents conduct an investigation to determine if any unnecessary use of force was used relating to the discharging of shots by officers.
Howell said “This investigation does not imply that officers were wrong for discharging their firearm, but this procedure complies with the mandates of the federal consent decree.”
