Upper l2r: Niah Henry and Anwar Lockhart. Lower l2r: Peter Francis and Khareed Brathwaite. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. THOMAS — The VIPD announced on Thursday that several arrests had been made earlier in the week in the Red Hook area.
The VIPD has been conducting Operation Clean Sweep in the area, which on Tuesday resulted in four arrests in the Yacht Harbor vicinity - Peter Francis, Khareed Brathwaite, Niah Henry, and Anwar Lockhart were arrested.
On January 24th, officers of the VIPD Intelligence Unit were conducting surveillance of the American Yacht Harbor parking lot using the police-owned cameras that had been installed in the area. They alerted colleagues that some of the footage they were reviewing was that of a drug transaction involving Niah Henry. Responding officers from the Special Operations Bureau spotted Henry standing in the parking lot next to a gray Nissan, which they searched. In the front pouch of a backpack found in the vehicle were eleven bags of a green leafy substance, which tested positive for marijuana. Seven bags of the same substance were found in the middle pouch and two larger bags were found in the main compartment of the backpack. Police also found two small bags and one larger bag containing a white powdery substance which tested positive for cocaine. Later, two other bags of marijuana were discovered, as well as an undisclosed sum of money. At the time of the search, Henry and the vehicle were within 1,000 ft of the Eudora Kean School.
Henry was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana within 1,000 ft of a school and possession with intent to distribute cocaine within 1,000 ft of a school.
Further investigations revealed that the vehicle did not belong to Henry, and further had been turned over to a local towing service.
In court on Wednesday, a judge ruled that Henry be allowed to post 10 percent of his bail amount which was set at $22,500 with the remainder to be posted as an unsecured bond by himself and his third party custodian. Henry is barred from leaving the St. Thomas- St. John District and must surrender his passport. He is to call in as well as sign in to the Office of Probation once a week and must abide by a daily curfew of 6:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. If he loses his job, he must begin a job search immediately. Henry is prohibited from using alcohol or any controlled substance as well as possessing a firearm, ammunition or dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, 33-year old Francis was charged with possession of illegal narcotics and drug paraphernalia.
Documents further revealed that 37-year old Brathwaite was reportedly observed making several drug transactions, at least some out of a Toyota Camry parked in front of Tammi Nails Spa. Officers approached Brathwaite, ordered him out of the vehicle, and conducted a search. Seven bags containing a green leafy substance which tested positive for marijuana were found in Brathwaite’s satchel. More marijuana was found in a backpack on the back seat of the vehicle, as well as a scale, rolling papers and cash. Brathwaite was placed under arrest and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Lockhart, age 40, was seen talking to another male who was under surveillance, and a woman with what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette in hand. Police observed Lockhart reaching into his pocket and making what they suspected to be a drug deal, and swooped in to handcuff and detain him while they effected a search. In his backpack, police found multiple bags of a green leafy substance which tested for marijuana as well as bags of a white powdery substance which tested for cocaine. They also found Xanax pills and Oxycodone, as well as a 9mm Glock 43 handgun with a magazine of ten rounds and one round in the chamber of the gun. Lockheart now faces charges of possession of an unlicensed firearm, possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm within 1000 feet of a school, and possession with intent to distribute.
