News Details

Man Sets Grandfather’s Home Ablaze After Erratic Episode

St. Croix, USVI - On Friday, January 20, 2023 at 9:31 a.m., 911 received notification of an arson at a home in Estate Humbug, St. Croix. The Virgin Islands Fire and Emergency Medical Services (VIFEMS) were dispatched from companies A (Renceliar I. Gibbs Fire Station) and C (Herbert L. Canegata Fire Station). Upon arrival, they found a fully involved fire at the residence. The VIFEMS crews quickly worked to extinguish the fire and prevent any potential risk to neighboring homes.

suspect
Chavez Ali

The fire was extinguished within the hour of arrival on scene and no injuries were reported. To ensure that the fire was completely doused, assistance was provided by Companies M (Charles A. Seales Fire Station) and F (Emile Henderson, Sr. Fire Station), with VIPD and Rescue also responding.

Upon 911’s notification of the arson at the Estate Humbug residence, preliminary investigation by the VIPD Criminal Investigations Bureau revealed that, the victim stated he left his father’s home locked and secured on Thursday, January 19, 2023 and on January 20, 2023 he received a call from the suspect, who stated that he needed a ride from his grandfather’s house. The victim stated that he refused to provide the ride and told the suspect to leave the residence. He stated that when he arrived at his father’s house, he saw the suspect in the front of the property acting erratically so he called for police and left to meet the officers. When he returned to the house it was engulfed in flames.

The complainant identified the suspect as his 28-year-old son, Chavez Ali and he was detained. He was subsequently arrested and charged with Arson First, Burglary Third, Grand Larceny, and Destruction of Property. His bail was set as per chart at $75,000.00, he was taken into custody, processed and remanded to the John Bell Correctional Facility pending an Advice of Rights hearing on Monday, January 23, 2023.

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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. Croix