Mugshot of Jerome Vanbeverhoudt. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS CONSORTIUM
ST. THOMAS — A man stopped for a traffic citation winded up with six felony drug and gun charges after police reportedly find an unlicensed Glock under the driver's seat.
On Saturday afternoon, officers out on patrol noticed a black Honda traveling north on Rumer Road. The vehicle, police say, had a fully tinted windshield, so they initiated a traffic stop as it turned left onto 1st Avenue.
As police approached the driver, Jerome Vanbeverhoudt, they reported a strong scent of marijuana coming from the lowered window. Recording the interaction, police asked for his documents and inquired as to the source of the scent. Vanbeverhoudt reportedly said that he had not been smoking, but just had "a little bit" of cannabis in the vehicle, pointing to a black shoe box on the back seat.
Officers report asking Vanbeverhoudt out of the vehicle and patting him down. He denied having any weapons, either on his person or in the Honda, and notified officers that he did not have a license to carry firearms. Police say that he began pacing, and told them that he was upset when they asked.
One officer began searching the vehicle and almost immediately spotted the point of a black gun under the driver's seat. Vanbeverhoudt was then arrested, and a forensics team was called in while the search continued.
Apart from the gun, which was identified as a Glock 17 with a fully loaded magazine, police found 8 small glass jars containing an amber colored, waxy cannabis product in the trunk, and in the shoebox discovered a scale, sandwich bags, and a total of over 2 ounces of marijuana.
Vanbeverhoudt was then charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm while in the commission of a crime, possession of an unlicensed firearm within 1000 ft of a housing community, possession of illegal ammunition, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute, possession of narcotics with intent to distribute with 1000 ft of a housing community, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also cited for excessive tint.
Unable to pay the initial bail set at $57,500, he was remanded into custody to await his advice of rights hearing.
In court on Monday, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis ruled that Beverholdt be allowed to post 10% of his bail amount in cash to secure his release ahead of trial. He would then be restricted to the St. Thomas/St. John district and required to report to the probation office every week by phone. He would also be required to surrender his passport and driver's license, and must have "no social media contact regarding this case," according to the court.
Mr. Vanbeverhoudt's next court appearance is scheduled for November 17.
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