Mugshot of Dante Tonge. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS – In an incident that highlights the territory's lack of adequate social support, a man demanding to be arrested and let back into jail was reluctantly obliged by police officers.
Police say that Dante Tonge marched into the Richard Callwood Command police station on Saturday night, demanding to speak to Bureau of Correction officials. He reportedly began requesting a return to BOC custody because he had no other options for shelter.
Tonge had been arrested in mid-December after an armed robbery outside the Hospital Ground Head Start. Bail was set at $75,000, of which he was initially supposed to have paid 10% in cash to secure his release ahead of trial. Last week, however, Magistrate Julie Todman Smith ordered that he could be released with a fully unsecured bond. Tonge was also supposed to be abiding by a daily 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew while awaiting trial on assault, robbery, and larceny charges.
When he showed up the day after his release from detention, BOC staff explained that there was nothing they could do, as Tonge had been lawfully set free. According to police, he then left, loudly informing those present that he was willing to commit additional crimes in order to be re-incarcerated. After some time he returned, again demanding to be taken into custody. Attempts to redirect him towards the Department of Human Services were met with agitation and hostility, according to court records.
Tonge continued causing a disturbance, refusing police commands to leave the area. Eventually, officers acquiesced to his demands and responded to his disruption by arresting him. He was charged with loitering, interfering with a law enforcement officer, and disturbance of the peace.
An advice of rights hearing was convened on Tuesday before Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull. Tonge's arraignment on the new charges is scheduled for February 6, 2026. Court records do not yet reflect any upcoming hearings with respect to Tonge's robbery charges from December.
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