Crime

Feds Charge 3 V.I. Corrections Officers With Excessive Force, Obstruction Of Justice and False Statements

ST. CROIX — U.S. Attorney for the V.I. Delia Smith announced today that two former and one current V.I Corrections Officers at the John A. Bell Correctional Facility on St. Croix, appeared before U.S. Magistrate Judge Ruth Miller for their initial appearance hearing after a federal grand jury returned a five-count indictment charging Maxwell Bryan, 51, Elvin Bloice, 70, and Jahmesha Bethelmie, 25, with excessive force, obstruction of justice, and false statements. All three defendants were released on conditions imposed by Judge Miller to include a $25,000 bond, remaining on the island of St. Croix pending trial, surrendering their passports or other international travel documents to the court and surrendering any firearms in their possession, the release stated. According to the indictment, on September 17, 2021, Bryan used excessive force against a pre-trial detainee identified by the initials “T.H.,” resulting in bodily injury. All three officers are charged with attempting to cov...