Friday morning a masked gunman abducted an officer of the Oriental Bank in Estate Diamond on St. Croix in an attempt to gain entrance to the bank and rob it, the V.I. Police Department reported.
According to police, at about 7:04 a.m. Friday, Sept. 18, the 911 Emergency Call Center received calls for police assistance at the Estate Diamond bank. Investigation revealed a bank employee had been abducted by a masked gunman wearing coveralls and gloves.
The gunman transported the victim to the bank where she worked, police said. The suspect directed the employee to give him money from the bank vault, but he was unsuccessful in obtaining the money.
Upon the arrival of another bank employee around 7 a.m., the employee became concerned and called the police. While officers were in the area of the bank, the kidnapped employee emerged from the bank and notified officers of the situation. Subsequently, it was learned that the suspect fled the area in the bank employee’s vehicle.
Officers engaged in a pursuit of the vehicle, but the suspect evaded police capture in the Annaly Bay area, and is still at large.
The VIPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating this case. A reward for information leading to the arrest of the suspect is being offered.
Police yurged anyone with information that can assist police in the suspect’s capture to call 911, the Crime TipLine at 340-778-4950, or the anonymous tip serice, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-8477 (1-800-222-TIPS).
Edtor’s note: An earlier version of this story was posted before the police issued a report with details.
