The Cryil E. King Airport in St. Thomas, USVI. Photo Credit: V.I. CONSORTIUM
ST. THOMAS — One man is currently before the courts on firearm possession charges after Transportation Security Administration officials found a gun in his backpack.
According to court documents, police officers were dispatched to the Cyril E. King Airport around midday on June 3. They spoke with the TSA supervisor on duty, who told them that a black backpack had gone through the X-ray machine, and officers noted a firearm on the monitor.
Ira Williams, the man who had been carrying the backpack, was then summoned to the TSA holding area and questioned. He reportedly told officials that he did not know how the weapon had appeared in his backpack, but said that he did possess a Florida license to possess and carry a firearm. A records check with the local firearms bureau indicated however that he does not have a VI firearm license.
Despite denying traveling with the weapon, which was identified as a black Taurus loaded with 16 rounds in a magazine, Williams was nevertheless arrested and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm, and unauthorized possession of ammunition. He was remanded into custody to await his initial court appearance.
Although a record of Tuesday’s court proceedings has not yet been published on the court’s public docket as of press time, records indicate that Magistrate Paula Norkaitis set pre-trial release conditions to include a bail cash component of $2500.
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