Mugshot of Tyshaune Rey Jr. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — A man accused of leaving a Charlotte Amalie jewelry store with more than $62,000 in unpaid gold chains was ordered to 24-hour house arrest if released from custody after a Superior Court magistrate on Thursday found probable cause to uphold grand larceny and possession of stolen property charges against him.
Tyshaune Rey Jr. was arrested Wednesday following a foot chase through downtown Charlotte Amalie that ended when a pursuing police officer deployed a Taser, according to police.
The pursuit began when a uniformed officer spotted two men running north along Raadets Gade toward the intersection with Dronningens Gade. Police said the man giving chase was the owner of Valentine’s Jewelry Store, while the man ahead of him was later identified as Mr. Rey.
According to police, Mr. Rey had placed several gold chains around his neck inside the store and left without paying for them. The jewelry store owner pursued him while shouting “thief,” prompting the officer to join the chase as people in the area also alerted him to what was occurring.
The officer followed Mr. Rey along Dronningens Gade and onto Commandant Gade, with people along the route directing police toward his location. Several citizens eventually pointed the officer toward a tree on Commandant Gade and said Mr. Rey was underneath it.
Police said that when the officer approached and ordered Mr. Rey to come out, he ran west along Wimmelskafts Gade, turned onto Nye Gade and entered the parking lot of the Dutch Reformed Church. The officer followed him through the parking lot before Mr. Rey returned to Back Street and continued east between vehicles parked along the roadway.
As Mr. Rey changed direction during the pursuit, the officer deployed his Taser and was able to detain him.
Police said they observed the gold chains around Mr. Rey’s neck after taking him into custody. He was medically cleared following the Taser deployment and transported to the Richard Callwood Command police station, where he declined to provide a statement concerning the alleged theft.
The jewelry store owner subsequently identified Mr. Rey, and police said the chains were valued at more than $62,000. Mr. Rey was arrested and charged with grand larceny and possession of stolen property and remanded into custody pending his advice-of-rights hearing.
During Thursday’s hearing, Judge Carol Thomas-Jacobs found probable cause to uphold both charges and maintained bail at $20,000.
If Mr. Rey posts the required bail and is released, he must remain under 24-hour house arrest and report to the probation office by telephone each week. He must also undergo a mental health evaluation through the Department of Health’s Division of Behavioral Health, Alcoholism & Drug Dependency and comply with the remaining standard bail conditions imposed by the court.
Mr. Rey’s next court appearance is scheduled for September 4.
Advertisements
