Daytime Firearm Incident at Cap’s Place Results in One Arrest, One Gun Recovery

 

 

V.I. Police Department response to a gun incident in Cap’s Place, including the apprehension of a suspect and the recovery of a gun, tied up traffic throughout Cruz Bay on Thursday, October 16.

 

V.I. Police Department cruisers blocked the front of Cap’s Place, above, as police investigated an incident involving a firearm.

 

 

CRUZ BAY — Late Thursday morning, October 16, much of downtown Cruz Bay became a crime scene and police arrested Joseph Robert Jr., 27, of Berg’s Homes, St. Thomas, and charged him with possession of an unlicensed firearm following a physical altercation that occurred at Cap’s Place in Cruz Bay, above.

V.I. Police Officers were seen escorting Robert from the area of the bandstand – as Julius E. Sprauve School students were outside on the neighboring playing field – to a waiting cruiser, while other officers appeared to be searching the area behind the Julius E. Sprauve School annex across from Ronnie’s Pizza for evidence the suspect may have thrown there.

The subsequent investigation resulted in the road being closed for a while in the middle of the day for forensic work and snarling traffic throughout town.

Report of Fight in Progress
“Police were alerted to the situation at about 11:45 a.m. on October 16,” according to police statement. “Concerned citizens told the 911 Emergency Dispatchers there was a fight in progress at the location and a gun was involved. When police arrived they attempted to talk to the injured victim however the victim told police that he did not want to talk to them and did not need their help.”

“Officers spotted another individual walking away from the area that fit the description of the suspect and called from him to stop,” the report continued. “The suspect began running and police gave chase.

“At one point the suspect hid behind a VITRAN Bus but was spotted again by officers when the bus drove off,” the VIPD statement continued. “The suspect was apprehended and taken into custody. Officers searched the area where the suspect hid and found a Smith and Wesson 40 caliber firearm.”  

Robert was arrested and placed on a $25,000 bail, according to the VIPD statement. He was remanded to the custody of the Bureau of Corrections pending further court action.