Crime
Unraveling the Home Invasion in St. John: Suspect Held on $100,000 Bail
ST. JOHN — As new details emerge about a recent home invasion in St. John, the victim’s account paints a chilling picture of that evening. This testimony played a crucial role in the detention of the accused, facing a slew of serious charges.
On the afternoon of August 6, a distress call was logged at the Leander Jurgen Command police precinct. The individual, who was the victim of the home invasion, narrated an alarming series of events from the previous evening. Just a little past 11:00 p.m. on August 5, he was settled in his Power Boyd Plantation home. Unexpectedly, a knock sounded at his door. The scene that unfolded next was nothing short of a nightmare. Three men barged in, waving black firearms menacingly.
Throughout this ordeal, money was their primary demand. However, one among the trio, whom the victim recognized as Javier Francisco Feliciano, had other plans. He quickly began pilfering the home, taking away shoes, colognes, and sunglasses. In a peculiar turn of events, while Feliciano swiped $200 from the victim’s wallet, he left behind $20.
Historical police records reveal a prior run-in with Feliciano. He had been detained earlier in March for drug-related offenses during a routine vehicular check. The V.I. Police Department documented this arrest.
The victim’s association with Feliciano dates back to a point where he played a role in Feliciano’s transit from the British Virgin Islands to the USVI. As the assailants made their exit post the invasion, they snapped pictures of their terrified victim, further tormenting him with threats of dire consequences should he approach the police. Fearful for his life, the victim hastily relocated.
The ordeal wasn’t over, though. In the early hours of August 7, the victim rang the police yet again. He reported a troubling encounter where Feliciano menacingly drove past him, signaling a gun-firing gesture from his black truck.
After the authorities issued and disseminated a wanted notice for Feliciano, he presented himself at the precinct on August 16 at around 9:00 a.m. He attempted to justify his break-in by stating his intention was to retrieve personal belongings from his former residence. However, he held back from furnishing an official testimony, expressing the need for an interpreter. Even with efforts to accommodate this request with Spanish-fluent officers, the situation culminated in Feliciano’s arrest.
The laundry list of charges he faces include first-degree burglary and assault, home invasion, issuing threats to breach peace, conspiracy, unlicensed firearm possession, along with six counts of aiding and abetting.
As proceedings move forward, Feliciano awaits an advisory hearing on his rights, scheduled for August 18. Meanwhile, he remains under custody. In a subsequent hearing, Magistrate Paula Norkaitis found sufficient grounds for all the charges. Feliciano’s bail has been determined at $100,000, with stringent conditions. Should he make bail, several requirements will tether him: weekly check-ins at the probation department, ongoing job hunting documentation, restricted movement within the jurisdiction unless court-approved, and a non-negotiable distance of a minimum 100 feet from the victim.
The legal saga continues, with Feliciano’s next appearance in court marked for September 1.
A dramatic police pursuit unfolded in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas, after Cisqo Connor allegedly ignored a red light, leading to a high-speed chase peppered with multiple traffic violations. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday on Veterans Drive, where police spotted Connor driving a white Toyota Corolla at a high rate of speed.
After running the red light at the intersection of Konsprindsens Gade, Connor reportedly accelerated, breezing through an additional four red lights. His reckless driving, which included swerving into oncoming lanes, forced several drivers to dodge potential collisions. Despite the time, the streets were lively with post-event traffic, increasing the risk to pedestrians and other motorists.
The chase continued onto Tolbod Gade, where heavy traffic impeded Connor’s escape. Attempting to flee on foot after abandoning his vehicle on Krondprindsens Gade, Connor was apprehended by the police amidst the crowd. His resistance continued as he provocatively dismissed police instructions and made inappropriate remarks when officers attempted a field sobriety test.
Connor faced charges of reckless endangerment, reckless driving, driving under the influence, and obstructing police duties. During his Monday court appearance, Magistrate Simone VanHolten-Turnbull assigned a public defender to his case and set a pretrial release, with Connor posting a $3,500 bail component.
His next court appearance is slated for May 17.
ST. CROIX — Walton Jack, a security consultant and former Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) officer, was arrested on misdemeanor assault charges following a heated altercation with police at a local event. The incident occurred during the Taste of St. Croix at the Divi Carina Bay Casino & Resort on the evening of April 18.
Court documents reveal that the confrontation began when Jack requested assistance from on-duty officers to relocate some barricades for his security team. After the officers declined, citing that the task was outside their scope of responsibilities, Jack became visibly agitated. Witnesses described him as using profane language, threatening the officers’ employment, and exhibiting signs of intoxication, including slurred speech, glassy eyes, and an unsteady gait.
The situation escalated when one officer attempted to calm Jack by touching his arm, which led Jack to attempt a punch. He missed and subsequently lost his balance, falling to the ground. Officers quickly subdued him and, following medical attention for a head laceration, transported him to the Wilbur H. Francis command police station for booking.
Despite refusing to give a statement, Jack was charged with simple assault. Initially held on $5,000 bail, he appeared in court on April 19, where Magistrate Yolan Brow Ross reduced his bail to a $500 unsecured bond. His trial is set for May 8.
This is not Jack’s first encounter with the law; he was arrested last May for negligent driving and driving under the influence, charges that are still pending in court.
A late-night shooting at the Frontline Nightclub in Colquohoun, St. Croix, has left one man in a critical condition, the Virgin Islands Police Department (VIPD) reported. The altercation, which took place Saturday night, has prompted an intensive investigation by the VIPD’s Major Crimes Unit.
Responding swiftly to calls about gunfire at the establishment, detectives from the Criminal Investigation Bureau were on scene to find a dispute among several individuals had intensified, leading to the shooting. The victim, who suffered multiple gunshot wounds, was subsequently transported to Juan F. Luis Hospital via private vehicle.
Forensic experts at the scene collected various shell casings, evidencing the use of multiple firearms during the incident. A shotgun belonging to the victim was also confiscated and is being held as part of the investigation.
Hospital authorities at Juan F. Luis confirmed the victim’s severe injuries and arranged for his airlift to another facility on Sunday morning for advanced care. His condition is still listed as critical. As the investigation unfolds, police are piecing together the circumstances of the shooting.
The VIPD is calling on the public to provide any information that could aid their ongoing investigation. Tips can be submitted anonymously to Crime Stoppers USVI.
Estate Whim Museum Recognized as One of America’s Most Endangered Historic Sites
Crown Bay Bustles with Annual Carnival Food Fair Festivities
St. Thomas Man Incurs Multiple Felony Charges After High-Speed Chase
CTE Board Enthusiastic About New Curriculum Standards, Yet Anxious Over Apprenticeship Support
Registered Sex Offender Detained for Illegal Firearm Possession During Annual Surveillance Drive
St. John’s Westin Resort Scene of Armed Robbery, Prompting Heightened Police Vigilance
-
Education9 months agoCTE Board Enthusiastic About New Curriculum Standards, Yet Anxious Over Apprenticeship Support
-
Crime9 months agoRegistered Sex Offender Detained for Illegal Firearm Possession During Annual Surveillance Drive
-
Crime7 months agoSt. John’s Westin Resort Scene of Armed Robbery, Prompting Heightened Police Vigilance
-
Crime9 months agoU.S. Virgin Islands Alert: Megan Smith Goes Missing; Authorities Request Community Aid
-
Videos1 year ago2022 Gubernatorial Election: Voters Speak Out
-
Videos1 year agoGubernatorial Teams Celebrate St. Croix’s Bull & Bread Day
-
Government3 months agoGovernor Bryan Champions Innovative Strategy for Swift USVI Recovery with $15 Billion Plan
-
Business8 months agoTerritorial Draft on Cannabis Regulations Revealed: Limits Set at 2 Ounces for Non-Medical Use