Pedro Luis Gonzalez. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. CROIX — A father has been arrested and charged after police executed a search warrant in connection with allegations against his minor son.
On Thursday officers attached to the Juvenile Investigation Bureau and multiple other police units executed a search warrant at a residence in Estate Sion Hill. According to a probable cause fact sheet before the court, the warrant was obtained in connection with a first-degree robbery which occurred in the Sunny Isles Shopping Center area on April 19th, 2022. The fact sheet further states that investigations into that incident revealed that probable cause existed for an arrest warrant for a juvenile suspect identified only by initials.
However, the minor’s father, Pedro Luis Gonzalez, was arrested after a search of his own bedroom revealed a black handgun and a rifle bag inside the box spring mattress. Police say the handgun was later identified as a .45 caliber pistol. The rifle bag also contained a .22 caliber rifle as well as ammunition. Police also discovered two other firearms were inside the box spring - a 9mm pistol and a 12-gauge Mossberg shotgun. Three of the weapons had no serial numbers, according to the fact sheet. Police also found 30 live .22 caliber rounds, 30 live 9mm rounds and 8 live 12-gauge cartridges inside a dresser drawer located in Gonzalez’s room.
Gonzalez was arrested after it was confirmed that he is not legally authorized to carry or possess firearms or ammunition in the territory. He was charged with possession of unlicensed firearms and possession of ammunition. Court documents indicate that $2500 cash bail was posted to secure the defendant’s release following a hearing on Friday. It is not yet clear whether police have charged Gonzalez’s minor child in connection with the initial robbery incident which led to the search warrant. The probable cause fact sheet concerning the father’s arrest did not detail whether the search revealed any evidence against the minor.
