Mugshot of N'Kel Morton. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Police serving an arrest warrant on a suspect for trafficking charges reportedly found him with more cocaine and an illegal firearm in his possession.
On Friday afternoon, members of the Special Operations Bureau deployed to a location in Red Hook Plaza to execute an arrest warrant. They spotted the suspect – N’Kel Morton – sitting in his black Acura sedan, and as the officers approached, they reportedly took note of the strong odor of marijuana coming from within. They also noted that the vehicle was parked within 1000 feet of a nearby high school.
During the pat-down that ensued, police reportedly discovered in Morton’s right back pocket a golf-ball-sized transparent plastic bag containing white powder that later tested positive for cocaine.
Morton and his vehicle were taken into police custody. A subsequent inventory of the Acura yielded a white plate with a red flower pattern which held an unknown quantity of cocaine, and more cocaine in two small pouches, one green and the other black. Other small plastic bags contained additional varying amounts of crack and powdered cocaine, and the vehicle also contained capsule pills with undisclosed contents. Police also found a small amount of marijuana, according to documents presented in court.
Morton’s vehicle, in addition to the illegal drugs, also reportedly contained a .358 caliber Glock pistol, with one round in the chamber and a 15-round magazine. An additional full 15-round magazine was found in a separate black pouch.
Police did not find any records to indicate that Morton is a licensed firearm holder, and as such he was arrested and charged with possession of illegal narcotics with intent to distribute, and possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition within 1000 feet of a school. With initial bail set at $25,000, he was remanded into custody to await his advice of rights hearing.
Morton appears to have been the last remaining suspect in a series of drug arrests made in early March. Cases linked to Morton’s in the court system include the arrest of Peter Francis Jr, Jamil Akeem Bell, and a fourth individual who may be a minor. Apart from Morton, the other individuals were charged with marijuana possession and distribution.
Morton’s initial arrest warrant, on February 26, was for cocaine distribution as well, along much the same lines as the circumstances outlined in these recent charges. In December, he reportedly conducted drug transactions with an undercover agent. Working as part of a joint operation between the VIPD and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, an undercover DEA agent reportedly purchased a bag of suspected cocaine from Morton for the sum of $200, again in the vicinity of Red Hook Plaza, a hotspot for narcotics sales on St. Thomas.
Now that Morton has been arrested for the initial offense and slapped with new charges, it is not immediately clear how the court will choose to consolidate the pending matters against him. In October 2022, Morton was charged with attempted murder after allegedly shooting at police, running over officer's foot and attempting to strike an officer with a Honda Accord.
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