Officer Javier Smith Charged After Alleged Firearm
A Royal Virgin Islands Police Force officer, identified by VINO as Javier Smith, 39, of Belle Vue, has been charged with Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Put Any Other Person in Fear and Common Assault following a domestic-related incident reported on May 27, 2026. According to an RVIPF press release and reporting by VINO, Smith was interdicted earlier this year, has been granted $45,000 bail, and is due to appear at the Magistrate’s Court on October 1, 2026.
An officer with the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has been formally charged following an alleged incident in which a service pistol was reportedly drawn during a personal dispute. VINO identified the officer as Javier Smith, 39, of Belle Vue, and reported that he faces charges of Possession of a Firearm with Intent to Put Any Other Person in Fear and Common Assault.
The alleged incident was first reported on May 27, 2026. According to VINO and the RVIPF’s press release issued on August 13, 2026, Smith was initially arrested for questioning as part of that investigation and was subsequently interdicted from duty pending its outcome. BVI News earlier sought comment from the RVIPF’s Police Information Unit and reported that the force would issue a statement; the RVIPF’s press release on August 13 confirmed that investigations had continued and resulted in formal charges.
The specific criminal counts against Smith — possession of a firearm with intent to put another person in fear and common assault — allege the threatened or actual use of a weapon to cause fear and conduct that caused another person to apprehend immediate unlawful violence. VINO reported that Smith has been granted $45,000 bail and is scheduled to appear at the Magistrate’s Court on October 1, 2026.
In the RVIPF’s August 13 press release quoted by VINO, Commissioner of Police (Ag.) Richard Ullger said: “Allegations made against members of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force are taken seriously and will be thoroughly investigated. Where evidence supports that an offence has been committed, appropriate action will be taken, regardless of the individual’s position within the Force.” The release reiterated the force’s commitment to maintaining public confidence and to investigating allegations of criminal conduct involving its members without fear or favour.
It remains unclear whether the service firearm was discharged during the May incident; earlier reporting by BVI News noted that the circumstances leading to the confrontation were not yet confirmed. As of the RVIPF’s release, no further public detail has been provided about whether shots were fired or about other specifics of the alleged altercation.
Under standard procedure, criminal charges against an officer may lead to court proceedings alongside an internal disciplinary review by the police force. BVI News previously reported that the accused officer’s identity was being withheld pending confirmation; VINO’s reporting and the RVIPF press release now provide the name, the interdiction from duty earlier this year, and the court date and bail information.
BVI News will continue to seek updates from the RVIPF, court records and other sources and will publish further details as they become available. Members of the public with information relevant to the matter are encouraged to contact police through official channels.
Primary source: BVI News