Mugshot of Clifton King. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — Clifton King is facing two counts of buying, receiving or possessing stolen property after police investigating an armed robbery on Subbase Road tracked one of the stolen iPhones and were directed to a man reportedly selling a phone in the Hardwood Highway area.
The underlying robbery occurred during the early morning hours Saturday, when a man and woman were confronted by two masked men while seated inside the woman’s vehicle.
According to police, the assailants took jewelry, phones, cash, designer sneakers and other property before fleeing in a heavily tinted black Suzuki SUV.
Masked Men Reportedly Forced Open Passenger Door
The male victim told investigators that he and the woman were sitting inside her vehicle when the robbery occurred.
He said he was wearing a gold chain and rings with a combined value of almost $5,000.
Two men dressed in black and wearing ski masks suddenly forced open the passenger-side door where he was seated, according to his account.
One of the assailants pointed a firearm at him while the other removed his jewelry, cash from his wallet and his designer sneakers.
The men also took his phone and car key.
According to the victim, he refused to tell the robbers where his vehicle was parked.
The assailants then turned their attention to the woman in the driver’s seat. They took two necklaces and a bracelet from her, along with assorted items from the glove compartment.
Police said the men then entered a heavily tinted black Suzuki SUV that had been parked next to the woman’s vehicle and drove away.
Woman Followed Getaway Vehicle
The male victim later retrieved his car keys after finding them where they had been dropped on the ground.
The woman then drove him to the location where his own vehicle was parked.
He told police that he subsequently went to a nearby gentleman’s club and called his mother to tell her that he had been robbed.
Meanwhile, the woman followed the black SUV after it left the scene.
She eventually lost sight of the vehicle when it turned toward Freetown from the area near Addelita Cancryn Jr. High School.
The man told investigators that he was able to track his stolen iPhone and saw that its location appeared to be in the Savan area.
Woman Says SUV Was Waiting Beside Her Vehicle
The woman provided police with additional details about the moments leading up to the robbery.
She said she had parked in the area to patronize a nearby club.
When she later returned to her vehicle, she noticed a black SUV parked to the right with its engine running. The vehicle had not been there when she initially arrived, she told police.
While standing outside speaking with friends, she encountered the male victim.
After the other people left, she and the man who remained behind got into her vehicle.
Before she could start the car, the masked men forced open the passenger-side door and robbed the pair at gunpoint.
Phone Leads Police to Hardwood Highway Area
The woman later told investigators that her mobile phone was transmitting its location from the Hardwood Highway area.
When officers went to the area, someone pointed out King, who was reportedly selling an iPhone.
King told officers that he had found the phone on the sidewalk and picked it up.
He refused, however, to tell police exactly where he had found the device and attempted to walk away.
Officers followed him and ultimately detained him.
Later that day, King reportedly repeated his claim that he had found the phone on the sidewalk before declining to answer additional questions without an attorney present.
He was arrested and charged with buying, receiving or possessing stolen property and was remanded into custody pending an advice-of-rights hearing.
King appeared Monday before Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull.
The magistrate found probable cause to uphold two counts of buying, receiving or possessing stolen property.
King was permitted to post $200 of the $25,000 bail requirement to secure his release before trial. The remaining amount will be posted as an unsecured bond.
Once released, King must report in person to both the probation office and the Mental Health Division once each week and comply with the other standard bail conditions imposed by the court.
His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 4
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