Top row, left to right: Jacob Turnbull and Jason Lettsome. Bottom row, left to right: Mark Prince and Tymothy Rodriguez. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
The V.I. Police Department Special Operations Bureau (SOB) recently conducted a series of traffic stops on St. Croix and St. Thomas, leading to multiple arrests and the seizure of unlicensed firearms and marijuana, according to a press release issued on Tuesday.
On November 10, officers from the SOB Tactical Team stopped a 2010 Honda Civic in Christiansted, St. Croix. During the stop, officers reportedly smelled marijuana from within the vehicle. After asking the occupants to exit, a search of the vehicle uncovered two unlicensed firearms: an American Tactical Titan .45 caliber handgun and a 9mm “ghost gun.” The .45 caliber handgun was loaded and equipped with an extended magazine.
Among those arrested was Thymothy Rodriquez, 20, who faces charges for carrying a firearm openly or concealed, and possession of ammunition. His bail was set at $50,000.
Mark E. Prince, also 20, was taken into custody and faces similar charges of carrying a firearm openly or concealed and possession of ammunition, with bail set at $50,000.
Additionally, 19-year-old Jacob A. Turnbull was arrested and charged with carrying a firearm openly or concealed and possession of ammunition. His bail, too, was set at $50,000.
On November 8 in St. Thomas, SOB officers patrolling Veterans Drive observed a white Acura RDX without a front license plate. Officers conducted a stop, detecting the smell of marijuana and noticing a marijuana cigarette in the ashtray. During a pat-down of the driver, Jason Lettsome, officers found an unlicensed Smith & Wesson .380 firearm on his person. Lettsome, 31, was charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and illegal ammunition and was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections with bail set at $25,000 after failing to post bond.
In a separate incident on November 8, SOB officers inspecting Turpentine Road near Brookman Market in St. Thomas seized over a pound and a half of marijuana and $286 in cash. The marijuana was processed for destruction, and the cash was retained by the VIPD for safekeeping.
