The VIPD has not provided a mugshot for Addie Samuel.
ST. THOMAS — Police have charged a man with drug offenses, gun crimes and traffic violations following a traffic stop on October 10.
According to court documents, officers of the V.I. Police Department's Special Operations Bureau were out on Thursday afternoon at the intersection commonly known as Four Corners, when they spotted a white Toyota Corolla with no front license plate. The Corolla, which was traveling east on Lionel Pierre Berry Scenic Drive, failed to obey a stop sign, after which police initiated a traffic stop.
After asking for documentation, officers asked the driver, Addie Samuel, and his passenger to exit the vehicle. Samuel reportedly admitted at that time that there was marijuana in the car, and a police search of the Corolla yielded a “medium-sized” glass jar containing a substance that returned a positive result when field tested for marijuana.
Officers also discovered a chrome Smith & Wesson revolver tucked inside a purple Crown Royal bag. The firearm was loaded with five rounds of ammunition. When questioned, the passenger told police that he did not own a firearm. Samuel advised officers that his passenger had nothing to do with the weapon, and so the second man was released.
However, Samuel told officers that the gun was not his either. He said that an unnamed contractor had been using his vehicle previously. However, he also told officers that he was “in the process” of obtaining a firearm license.
Upon further inspection of the Corolla, police discovered a black backpack behind the driver’s seat. Inside was a “large” glass jar which also contained a substance that field tested positive for marijuana. A box of zippered plastic bags sat on the rear seat.
Ultimately, Samuel was arrested and charged with possession of an unlicensed firearm and possession of ammunition. Police also charged him with two counts of failure to obey a police order, and improper plates. Bail was set at $50,000 and Samuel was remanded into custody to await his advice of rights hearing.
In court on Friday, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis ordered that Samuel be allowed to pay 5% of the assessed bail amount to secure his release from detention ahead of trial. He will be required to report to the probation office every week via telephone, along with the usual restrictions on alcohol, controlled substances, and possession of firearms, ammunition, or other dangerous weapons.
His next court appearance has been scheduled for October 25.
