ST. CROIX — A St. Croix man wanted since February on reckless endangerment and weapons charges was arrested Thursday at his workplace in Prattville, Alabama, after investigators determined that he had previously been living in South Texas before relocating, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.
Luis Ventura was wanted by the V.I. Police Department on charges of first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of a deadly weapon during a crime of violence. He was taken into custody on Sept. 11 by members of the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force.
VIPD requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals Florida/Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force on June 16 in locating and apprehending Ventura. During the investigation, authorities learned that he had been residing in South Texas before later relocating to Prattville, Alabama.
On Sept. 9, investigators contacted the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Fugitive Task Force in Montgomery, Alabama. Two days later, task force members located Ventura at his place of employment in Prattville and arrested him without incident.
Ventura is being held at the Montgomery County Jail while awaiting extradition to the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“This is another example of combined law enforcement efforts coming together to serve justice,” said Kwesi R. Howard, U.S. Marshal for the District of the Virgin Islands. “Persons committing crimes in the Virgin Islands and fleeing the territory cannot outrun the long arm of the law.”
The U.S. Marshals Service said one of its priorities is providing communities with immediate relief from violent crime by combining its resources and authority with those of participating local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
