According to the VIPD, the suspect refused to be processed, and therefore his mugshot was not captured.
ST. THOMAS — A drunk driver allegedly found with an unlicensed gun is now facing several felony charges before the courts.
Just before 3:00 a.m. on Monday morning, police were dispatched to a bar along Brookman Road after receiving reports of a man brandishing a firearm. On their way to the location, responding officers were informed that the man had left the establishment in a silver jeep and was heading eastward, in the direction of the police. Soon thereafter, police saw the jeep coming towards them with its headlights off, swerving in and out of the east bound lane.
The silver jeep hit the police vehicle and came to a stop near the entrance of the Heavy Materials concrete plant due to the damage sustained by the collision. As officers approached the vehicle, the driver exited the jeep, reportedly staggering and smelling strongly of alcohol.
Police frisked the man and discovered a dark colored handgun in his back pocket. The man, later identified as Roy Prosper, admitted that he did not have a license for the weapon, and he was promptly arrested and detained in the police unit while further investigations took place.
Those investigations led police back to the bar, where they spoke to an employee who had taken Prosper’s food order. After placing the order, the worker said that Proper pulled a gun out of his pocket and tucked it back in, prompting the staffer to ask, “What you pull out your gun for?”
Proposer allegedly claimed to have a license, to which the employee responded that licensed or not, waving around a weapon was not allowed. However, Prosper reportedly walked around the establishment, continuing to display his firearm, even pulling back the slide at one point. That’s when the employee said he went to call the police.
However, when officers approached the establishment, Prosper reportedly got into his jeep and drove off.
The weapon taken from Prosper’s back pocket turned out to be a Kel-Tec P-11 9mm pistol that was fully loaded, with 10 cartridges in the magazine and one in the chamber.
Further investigations revealed that the registration for the vehicle Prosper was driving expired in 2022. Prosper was then taken to the Traffic Investigation Bureau at the Richard Callwood Command police station, where he declined the breathalyzer test, and also refused to be processed by the forensic technician during booking. Nevertheless, he was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections to await his advice of rights hearing, which was held on Wednesday.
In court on Wednesday, probable cause was found for all 9 charges against Prosper, among them possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession or sale of ammunition, brandishing, exhibiting or using a deadly weapon, disturbance of the peace by threats, driving under the influence, operating a motor vehicle without registration, and negligent driving.
Magistrate Judge Simon VanHolten-Turnbull assessed bail in the sum of $100,000, half of which can be posted either in cash or via suitable property to secure release for Prosper. If he is able to post bail, Prosper's driving privileges will be suspended for 90 days; he must surrender all driver’s licenses in his possession, and will not be allowed to apply for any new licenses while the matter is pending. Prosper will also be placed on 24-hour house arrest with electronic monitoring, and will have to report in person to the probation office twice a week.
The next court hearing for Roy Prosper is scheduled for August 11.
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