Mugshot of Jamari Hendrickson. Photo Credit: THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
ST. CROIX — After reportedly aborting the firearm licensing process because it was “too long,” one man will now have to answer to felony charges in court after police at a traffic stop found him with drugs and an unregistered handgun.
Last Friday, officers were on mobile patrol on the Queen Mary Highway, when they saw a Honda approaching them with no visible license plates. After stopping the vehicle, police made contact with the driver and her passenger, Jamari Hendrickson. Hendrickson, police say, appeared nervous, his hands trembling uncontrollably. Officers noticed him kicking something that was on the floorboard between his legs – a brown cross body bag.
Smelling marijuana, police asked the vehicle’s occupants if they had been smoking in the vehicle, which Hendrickson denied. However, officers noticed two vials on the center console of the type commonly used to package and store marijuana. The vials appeared to be opened. Police then informed the driver and the passenger that they were going to inspect the vehicle to ascertain whether they were within the legal limit of two ounces.
In the cross-body bag, officers found a sandwich bag stuffed with plant material and a black handgun. After Hendrickson admitted to not having a license for the weapon, he was arrested.
The forensics team identified the gun as a black 9 mm Taurus pistol, loaded with 10 live rounds, and Hendrickson was charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm and possession of ammunition. As he was being advised of his Miranda Rights, the Hendrickson reportedly told officers that he was self-employed with two children, and that “the streets hot.” He also reportedly told them that the reason he did not complete his firearm license application is because the process was “too long.”
In court on Monday, Magistrate Ernest Morris found probably cause to uphold both charges against Hendrickson. The initial $50,000 bail was modified to allow the defendant to post $1000 in cash, leaving the remainder as an unsecured bond. Hendrickson’s next court appearance is scheduled for November 8.
Advertisements
