V.I. Police swept across St. Croix Saturday, arresting five suspects in an action dubbed "Operation Round Them Up."
According to the V.I. Police Department, the operation was a collaboration between the police and the Attorney General’s office of the Virgin Islands.
Affidavits were filed and warrants were secured, and police – including units from the Criminal Investigation Bureau, the Special Operation Bureau and the K9 Unit – followed an operational plan that had been approved by acting Chief Winsbut McFarlande.
The five people arrested were:
Samuel McDonald, 19 years old
Charged with first-degree robbery, possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, failure to report firearms obtained outside or brought into the Virgin Islands, and discharging and aiming a firearm. McDonald is believed to have robbed at gunpoint a citizen, taking the victim’s phone and gold chain on June 24 in Estate Sion Farm in the vicinity of the ball park. He was arrested at 1:03 p.m. in Lorraine Village. Unable to post bail he was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center.
Dale Henry, 49
Arrested for first-degree robbery, possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime of violence, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, failure to report firearms obtained outside of or brought into the Virgin Islands, and discharging and aiming a firearm. Henry is alleged to have robbed the employee at Top Gas Service Station on of cash and fled the scene on Nov. 22. He later was picked out of an array as the perpetrator. He was arrested at 2:24 p.m. in the vicinity of Cruzan Petroleum Sion Farm, Christiansted. Unable to post bail he was remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center.
Omari Horton, 23; Leroy Edwards, 23, and Shomari Ferrance, 24
All three were arrested for third-degree burglary, grand larceny, and possession of stolen property after they were identified as the people who broke into A Z Academy in Estate Orange Grove, Christiansted, and stole electronic equipment on April 7. Omari Horton was arrested at 1:15 p.m. and Leroy Edwards was arrested at 12:43 p.m. Both were arrested in separate locations in the vicinity of the Water Gut shanty.
Shomari Ferrance was arrested at the Golden Grove Correctional Facility, where he was being detained for a previous charge. He was arrested at 1:02 p.m.
Their bails were set at $50,000 and they were remanded to the Golden Grove Detention Center.
