News Details

Operation Over Watch Yields Multiple Arrests

St. Thomas, USVI - On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, members of the V.I.P.D Special Operations Bureau and Intel Unit conducted surveillance in the area of Bovoni, in the vicinity of Gasworks gas station and convenience store.

During the operation, officers made contact with 29-year-old Liz Brian who refused to comply with the orders of the officers on the scene. Officers took Brain into custody using less lethal force after he tried to evade the officers in an attempt to leave the vicinity. Once detained, officers discovered that Brain was in possession of a machine gun with a 50- round drum attached. It was also discovered that Brian was in possession of a Glock 26 – 9MM handgun in the glove box of his vehicle with several extended magazines loaded to capacity with bullets.

suspect 1
Liz Brian

Liz Brian was placed under arrest for Delaying and Obstructing and Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm. He was then taken to the Richard Callwood Command where he was booked, processed and remanded to the VI Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights Hearing, set for Friday, October 21, 2022 at 10:00 a.m.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at approximately 9:20 p.m., officers of the Operation Over Watch Task Force, a VIPD led Anti-Violent Crime Operation, received information from the Virgin Islands Police Department Intelligence Unit that a heavily tinted Acura TSX with a tinted license plate cover left the area of Gas Works and was traveling west towards the Bolongo Bay area.

Officers were in the area and initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle that fit the description of the details provided by the Intelligence Unit.

The driver who was later identified as 29-year-old Mr. Michael Frett was instructed several times to put his vehicle in park and remove the keys from the ignition. Officers observed that Mr. Frett constantly moved around in the vehicle and was ordered to step out of the vehicle followed by a pat down for safety. Frett admitted to officers that he was in possession of a half of an ounce of marijuana after being asked.

suspect 2
Michael Frett

Officers also detected a strong odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle. Frett's vehicle was searched when two clear sandwich bags containing marijuana and several small plastic containers, packaged for sale which contained additional marijuana was found in the vehicle.

Michael Frett was placed under arrest for Possession with intent to Distribute and transported to the Richard Callwood Command where he was booked and processed and remanded to the VI Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights Hearing, set for Friday, October 21, 2022, at a.m.

On Wednesday, October 19, 2022, at approximately 9:46 p.m., members of the Operation Over Watch Task Force, A VIPD led Anti-Violent Crime Operation, were patrolling the area of the Elmo D. Roebuck Sr. drive. Officers observed a silver Toyota Camry baring a license plate with a cover that was heavily tinted.

Officers initiated a traffic stop and ordered the operator of the vehicle to exit the vehicle with his driver’s license, registration and insurance. Officers observed that the operator of the vehicle was 33-year-old Lashorn Samuel, a known felon. Samuel was pat down for Officer Safety where two (2) Glock .40 cal. magazines with the capacity to hold 15 rounds in each magazine and a small clear bag containing a green leafy substance later identified as marijuana was discovered in Samuel's front left pant pocket.

suspect 3
Lashorn Samuel

Officers then approached the vehicle to determine if any other occupants were in the vehicle. There were no other occupants, however officers detected a strong odor of what appeared to be marijuana emanating from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle revealed a radio scanner and a Glock .40 handgun under the driver seat.

Mr. Samuel was placed under arrest for Unauthorized Possession of a Firearm, taken to the Richard Callwood Command where he was booked, processed and remanded to the VI Bureau of Corrections pending his Advice of Rights Hearing, set for Friday, October 21, 2022.

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All individuals listed as arrested or charged with a crime in this press release are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

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  • St. Thomas