Mugshot of Talibe Suleiman. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — The victim of an alleged kidnapping and assault says he believes his attacker was seeking revenge, following an embarrassing viral video.
Talibe Suleiman age 25 of Clifton Hill is charged with 5 offenses stemming from an incident on Wednesday in which he allegedly kidnapped a man in the vicinity of the old Hovensa training school. According to the probable cause fact sheet, the alleged victim told police that he was selling homemade juices at about 1:00 p.m., when Suleiman drove up close to him with a black handgun in his lap angled towards the victim. Suleiman allegedly told the victim to “get the [expletive] in the car” — an order which the victim complied with out of fear for his life. Friends of the victim reportedly chased Suleiman but to no avail.
The victim said that Suleiman drove towards Container Port where he gun-butted him in the face and forced him to empty his pockets which contained between $200- $300 that Suleiman took. By the victim’s account, they later left that location and proceeded towards the direction of Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, at which point Suleiman threw the victim’s phone out the car window and threatened to kill him and his family. Suleiman is alleged to have later taken the victim towards Lorraine Village, where he pulled over and told the victim to get out of his vehicle. The man says his attacker demanded that he take off his blood-stained shirt and give it to him. Suleiman then gave the victim his own shirt before driving away. The victim subsequently made contact with relatives and sought medical attention.
In speaking to police, the man suggested that the incident stemmed from a ten-second video which went viral on social media on Monday. According to the victim, the clip depicted him and a friend fighting Suleiman because Suleiman was bullying and punching the friend. He surmised that Suleiman was embarrassed and sought to exact revenge. Suleiman, who was later arrested, told police that he punched the man to the left eye and that his only purpose was to fight the victim. He claimed that he did not force the victim into his car and that he was not armed with a gun. However, one of the victim’s friends said they travelled to Suleiman’s house after learning of the alleged kidnapping and saw him exiting his vehicle awkwardly holding a black handgun. Suleiman allegedly told that individual “get the [expletive] out of my yard!” and went inside his house, at which point the friend called 911.
At his advisement hearing on Friday, Judge Ernest Morris, Jr. concluded that Suleiman could secure his release by signing an unsecured bond in the amount of $75,000. The bond must also be signed by his court-approved third-party custodian with whom he will reside during the pendency of the matter. Suleiman is strictly prohibited from having any form of direct or indirect contact with the alleged victim and any witnesses in the case. He has been ordered to maintain a distance of 1000 feet from the alleged victim at all times.
The 25-year-old faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years if found guilty of false imprisonment and kidnapping, as well as an additional sentence of not more than 20 years for first-degree robbery. If convicted of carrying a concealed firearm, Suleiman can be punished with a minimum sentence of 10 years, a fine of not less than $10,000 or both a fine and imprisonment. He has also been charged with brandishing or exhibiting a deadly weapon, as well as third-degree assault which carries a penalty of not more than 5 years in prison and a maximum fine of $3000.
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