From left to right, mugshots of Edwin Russell III and Sekani Russell. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — A father and son are facing drug and gun charges after police say they were found with drugs and firearms at the Vegetable Market in Frederiksted.
While on patrol in the area on January 27, officers of the Special Operations Bureau smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from under the market where several individuals had congregated. Upon investigation, they saw 51-year-old Edwin Russell III, standing near a backpack and three sandwich bags containing a green leafy substance which tested positive for marijuana.
When asked, Russell admitted to ownership of the items and gave the officers permission to conduct a closer inspection. Police reportedly found a measuring scale, empty vials, full vials of marijuana and another bag with marijuana. In total, the marijuana found weighed 520.5 grams.
Russell was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
On the same day in a separate incident, police on patrol in the same area saw a man later identified as 23-year-old Sekani Russell. The younger Russell reportedly picked up, from a concrete table, a small plastic bag and another bag. He then walked towards a silver Ford Focus, ignoring repeated police instructions to stop until he reached the car. He put the bags on the roof of the vehicle, and several transparent bags of what appeared to be marijuana tumbled out.
Police say they found more marijuana when they searched Russell and his bags, weighing 114.5 grams altogether. They also found a revolver with six live .38 special rounds in his over-the-shoulder bag.
The 23-year-old was placed under arrest, charged with unlawful possession of a firearm, possession of ammunition and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
In court on Monday, a judge ruled that Sakani Russell post $500 cash while he and his third-party custodian be allowed to sign an unsecured bond for the remainder of the $50,000 bail requirement. His father, Edwin Russell III, was allowed to sign an unsecured bond for his $7,500 bail.
They are both barred from leaving St. Croix without the court’s written permission and must report to the Office of Probation every Tuesday. They must also surrender their passports. Both men are prohibited from entering the Vegetable Market, and must have no unlawful contact with each other. Edwin Russell III must abide by a 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily curfew, while his son is allowed to stay out an additional half an hour.
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