On Wednesday, December 14, 2022, about 4:30 a.m., officers attached to the Vieux Fort Police Station’s Beat and Patrol Department, Criminal Investigations Department, and the Special Services Unit (South), conducted a joint police operation at Martin Luther King Street, Vieux Fort.
During the operations, several prohibited and suspected stolen items were recovered including a .45 pistol with a magazine containing 3+ rounds of .45 ammunition, one extended 9mm magazine, a quantity of suspected cocaine, a taser, binoculars, 12 cellular phones, other electronic items, and a dangerous weapon to wit a sword.
The officers arrested the following individuals:
• Nathan Joseph, a 22-year-old resident of Belle Vue Hill, Vieux Fort
• Anyo Stephen, 30-year-old resident of Ciceron, Castries
• Vercassie Charles, a 37-year-old resident of Agard, Castries
• Peterson Scott, a 29-year-old resident of Ciceron, Castries
• Della President, a 25-year-old resident of West Hall Group, Vieux Fort
All persons were charged in connection with Unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition, Possession of Controlled Drugs, Possession of Controlled Drugs with Intent to Supply and Possession of a Dangerous Weapon.
On Friday, December 16, 2022, the defendants were escorted to the Second District Court. Anyo Stephen plead guilty in relation to possession of the dangerous weapon and the extended 9mm magazine. Peterson Scott plead guilty to the charges of possession of the .45 pistol and three rounds of ammunition, possession of suspected cocaine and possession of a controlled drug with intent to supply. They were both remanded in custody. The three other defendants were granted bail in the sum of $5000.00 cash or suitable surety on each charge. The matters were all adjourned to January 12, 2023, for further case management.
Then on Saturday, December 17, 2022, about 12:10 a.m., officers attached to the Gros Islet Police Station conducted an operation in Sarrot, Castries.
During that time, the officers had cause to pursue a male. He was arrested and in possession of a 9mm pistol with one round of ammunition. The 28-year-old male resident of Sarrot, Ray Estaphane, was arrested and formally charged for unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. He was escorted before the First District Court, where he was remanded in custody until February 7, 2023.
Estaphane, at the time of his arrest, was on bail for a prior charge of unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition. On Wednesday, December 16, 2020, Ray Estaphane was arrested during the execution of a Warrant to Search for Property in Sarrot. A Glock 27 pistol, 10 rounds of .45 ammunition, four rounds of .40 ammunition, six rounds of 9mm ammunition in a magazine, and one Glock .40 magazine were seized by officers. He was granted bail in the sum of $35,000.00 cash or suitable surety.