Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives on St. Croix have issued a wanted poster for Jesus Iran Alicea Santiago, who is wanted for a variety of firearms charges.
According to a release from the V.I. Police Department, Santiago is charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, carrying or using a dangerous weapon, possession of ammunition, failure to report a firearm obtained outside or brought into the Virgin Islands and interfering with an officer discharging his duties.
Santiago is a 19-year-old Hispanic male, 5 feet 8 inches tall, and weighs about 150 pounds. He has a light complexion, black hair, brown eyes and a slight goatee. He is said to frequent the Water Gut and D. Hamilton Jackson Terrace housing community, also known as “Red Brick” areas of Christiansted.
Police said while conducting a saturated patrol at about 10:30 p.m. Jan. 1 they saw a driver operating a vehicle and neither the driver nor his passenger were wearing seatbelts. Police stopped the car, and the passenger, later identified as Santiago, reportedly fled the scene on foot. A Smith & Wesson .38 caliber Special Revolver was found in the vehicle. The driver, identified as Jose Cruz, was arrested that same day.
Police are asking the community’s help in locating Santiago. Anyone who knows Santiago or has seen him recently can call the Criminal Investigation Bureau at 712-6077, 712-6037, Officer Poleon at 773-2266, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 1-800-222-TIPS.