A routine traffic stop on St. Croix early Sunday turned out to be anything but routine, resulting in two arrests and the seizure of three weapons and a quantity of marijuana, crack cocaine and cash.
Officers on patrol in Frederiksted at about 1:20 a.m. Sunday saw a vehicle containing two passengers run through a stop sign without stopping. When the officers stopped the vehicle, they saw a firearm on the floor.
Police arrested 36-year-old Alexis Doward and 19-year-old Tishawn Samuel. Samuel had another firearm tucked in his waist and a third firearm was found under a child booster seat in the rear seat of the vehicle. Samuel was also found to be in possession of at least eight clear plastic bags of marijuana, eight pieces of crack cocaine and more than $700 in cash. Doward was found to be in possession of one bag of marijuana.
Police confiscated a Smith and Wesson .357-caliber revolver with an obliterated serial number, a Smith and Wesson .40-caliber pistol and a Heckler and Koch .40-caliber pistol.
Both suspects were charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm. Samuel was also charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, and Doward was charged with simple possession of a controlled substance.
Bail for both suspects was set at $25,000. Unable to post bail, Samuel and Doward were remanded to the Golden Grove Adult Correctional Facility pending their advice-of-rights hearing.
