ST. THOMAS — The VI Police Department continued its high-visibility presence in Hospital Ground over the weekend. VI Police Department officers patrolled the major intersections into the neighborhood on foot and by police cruiser.
However, no arrests have been reported. The police Special Operations Unit is probing the shooting deaths of three people in Hospital Ground — and two others wounded — since April 6th.
Throughout the day Sunday police vehicles were spotted ‘Round the Field’ near the Lionel Roberts Stadium and along Goat Street, or Prindsens Gade. Foot patrols were posted-up on at least two intersections into the night on Saturday.
Gov. Albert Bryan assured those involved in the late-night shooting deaths would be arrested and prosecuted. “There is a spate of violent crime on St. Thomas that comes at a time when we as a community need to work together to fight against our common enemy,” the governor said. “Let me remind our common enemy that we will catch you. You will not get away.”
Two weeks after the first of the latest Hospital Ground killings, VIPD hasn’t arrested any one yet.
Police Commissioner Trevor Velinor said the police department’s Special Operations unit was blanketing Hospital Ground and surrounding areas to quash the bloody rise in shootings. “We're going to be very aggressive in dealing with those who are out on the streets,” he said during a recent radio broadcast appearance.
Mr. Bryan said it was a “ ... disappointing thing to have to stop what you are doing to come to have to deal with things like people shooting one another. And, from the reports that I am getting people are … shooting one another for little or nothing, at the end of the day. … So again, we will catch you.”
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