From left, mugshots of Jamari Gumbs and Emerson Nicolas. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT
ST. THOMAS — Two teenagers have been arrested after police reportedly discovered marijuana and ammunition in a vehicle they were driving.
Jamari Gumbs, age 18 and Emerson Nicolas age 19 were arrested in the early hours of Friday morning by an officer on patrol on Alton Adams Drive. According to the fact sheet submitted to the court, the officer observed a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway headed north and stopped his marked police vehicle to find out what was wrong. However, when the officer made his way onto the roadway behind the car, the vehicle sped off through the red light and turned right. The officer then observed the vehicle cross the median and turn into Racetrack Gas Station before making an evasive turn, returning to the eastbound lane and speeding off towards Rapune Hill.
The car eventually came to a stop at the top of Rapune Hill and the officer stated that he observed the two occupants move from the front to the back of the vehicle. He gave verbal commands over the PA system for the occupants to place their hands out the window. According to the fact sheet, the occupants didn’t comply but yelled back that they didn’t understand the orders. Two officers then approached the vehicle and both male occupants raised their hands in front of them and yelled “we give up, we aren’t resisting”. The officers ordered them to exit the vehicle and then observed a mason jar filled with a green leafy substance. However, when questioned, both men denied having marijuana in the car.
Police searched the car and discovered a large bag on the front passenger floor which both men claimed ownership of. According to the fact sheet it contained several empty firearm magazines and one live .40 cal ammunition. The fact sheet stated that Gumbs claimed they found the bag earlier when some men dropped it while running away from a house they robbed in Solberg. Under the front passenger seat officers also discovered a black firearm handle later identified as a pellet gun, along with a police scanner. The trunk of the vehicle also contained a backpack with two large mason jars of bagged marijuana. Nicolas and Gumbs were both unable to produce license or registration documents for the vehicle which they claimed was a rental.
The fact sheet states that when asked what they were reaching for in the back seat, Gumbs stated, “I was tucking the pellet gun under the seat, so we don’t get shot.” Officers also questioned why they initially sped off to which Gumbs replied, “I didn’t know it was the police, I thought it was one of them man coming to done me." Officers asked why he would believe such and Gumbs reportedly stated, “they claim to know that I have been robbing people.”
Based on the probable cause fact sheet, the officer notified the Criminal Investigations Bureau of the statements made by the males and detained them for questioning. They were later arrested and charged for possession of illegal ammunition and possession of narcotics with intent to distribute. Gumbs was also charged for operating a vehicle without a license.
On Monday, Judge Paula Norkaitis set bail at $15,000 each, with the allowance for release on the posting of 10 percent. The teenagers will be required to abide by a 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. daily curfew once released on bail.
