ST. THOMAS — A coconut vendor who reportedly continued operating his unlicensed business despite a previous warning was arrested on Friday and will now have to explain his obstinacy to the court.

According to court documents, an enforcement officer arrived at Coki Point Beach on Wednesday after learning that people may have been illegally operating businesses on the beach.

When they got there, they found an impromptu deli set up on the sand; a table on which food in takeaway containers was laid out, and a makeshift bar. They also spotted a wheelbarrow full of coconuts being attended to by Keve Ferrarie, also known as the “coconut man.”

After watching people buy coconuts from Ferrarie, the officer approached the bartender and asked to see the business license for the operation. The license was with the owner of the business, and he was not at hand, officers were told. While waiting to reach him over the phone, they next approached “coconut man.”

Ferrarie reportedly ignored the first request to produce a business license. When initially asked to provide his name, he refused. The officer ordered him to produce identification but he reportedly began getting hostile.

The coconut man reportedly informed the enforcement officer that they were on his beach and could not tell him what to do. He then reportedly warned them to get out of the way. Police say Ferrarie picked up a coconut and cut it, deliberately aiming it in such a way that the coconut water sprayed the officer. That was assault, the officer informed the coconut man, only to receive disparaging remarks in return.

Ferrarie was ultimately arrested and a subsequent search of Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs records found no business license in his name. It was also discovered that he had been approached earlier this month and informed that he needed authorization to conduct business on Coki Point Beach.

Ferrarie was ultimately charged with disobeying a lawful order, operating a business without a valid license, and aggravated assault.

He reportedly posted an initial $500 bail, however during his advice of rights hearing on Friday, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis subsequently allowed him to post just 10% of that amount to remain free ahead of trial. As of press time, however, no further details have been made public regarding the outcome of his June 20 advice of rights hearing.