Mugshot of Jeremy I. Allen. By. THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — Police on Friday afternoon chased and apprehended one of two suspects who stole Dept. of Health vehicles. The chase took police through Sion Farm, Sion Hill and ended in Peter's Rest.
V.I.P.D. Public Information Officer Toby Derima said the vehicles were stolen from the V.I. Department of Health’s headquarters in Estate Richmond.
According to police, once the call went out from the 911 Emergency Call Center, officers started reporting that they saw the stolen vehicles on the road.
Mr. Derima said the vehicles were carefully followed with the assistance of installed GPS and tracking from the VI Department of Property and Procurement. Both vehicles were recovered undamaged, but will nonetheless undergo a thorough inspection before they are returned to D.O.H.'s fleet for use by staff, according to the release.
One of the suspects remain at large.
Officers arrested Jeremy I. Allen, age 25, and charged him with unauthorized use of a vehicle. Allen was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections in Golden Grove pending his advisement hearing after failing to make bail.
Health Commissioner Justa Encarnacion expressed her gratitude for the collaboration between all three agencies, stating they acted quickly to recover the stolen vehicles. “The safety and security of our premises is a top priority for us," she said. "This news is disappointing as these vehicles are critical to our operations — especially our Covid-19 response. We use our vehicles for everything from community engagement to patient transport. I am relieved that this matter has been rectified quickly."
St. Croix Chief of Police Sidney Elskoe commended the officers for exercising judgment in their contact with the persons alleged to have stolen the vehicles, and recovering the vehicles without injury to themselves or the individual.
