Koi Thomas By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — A man who was out on bail following an arrest for grand larceny has been arrested once more on similar charges.
Koi Thomas was arrested in March and was granted bail in the sum of $10,000 with a 10 percent provision. Now, just two months after he was allowed pretrial release, Thomas is facing fresh charges, this time for third-degree robbery, first-degree assault and grand larceny.
This latest round of charges stems from an alleged robbery at the Nisky Center on Monday, where a woman claims that she was leaving a fast food outlet when a man asked her for money. She reportedly responded that she didn’t have any money and according to her statement, the suspect proceeded to snatch her gold chain from her neck and escape by jumping over a fence. According to the probable cause fact sheet, the chain was valued at $1500. The alleged victim described the perpetrator as young, tall, skinny and dark complexioned with a low haircut and paint all over his pants and shoes.
On Tuesday, police officers reviewed surveillance footage from the food establishment which showed a positive ID for Koi Thomas. According to the fact sheet, Thomas is known by several VIPD officers. Police later apprehended Thomas following a tip that he was in the Fort Mylner area. He was transported to the Criminal Investigation Bureau where he refused to give a statement and denied taking the victim’s chain. Unable to post bail set at $25,000 Thomas was turned over to the Bureau of Corrections.
At his advisement hearing on Wednesday, Judge Paula Norkaitis noted that Thomas was back before the court on similar theft-like activity, just two months after he was granted pre-trial release. A strict condition of that release was that he not violate any laws of the territory. While Judge Norkaitis reduced the defendant’s bail to $15,000 she did not grant a 10 percent provision, meaning he must pay the full amount to be released. Thomas has been prohibited from returning to the fast-food business where the incident occurred and has been ordered to remain at least 50 feet away from the location at all times. He has also been ordered to maintain a 50-foot distance from the alleged victim, with whom he is to have no contact while the matter remains pending.
