RVIPF Heightens Patrols — Two Firearms Seized
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) has increased high-visibility patrols across the Territory following a recent prison escape and a shooting in Purcell Estate, recovering two firearms and arresting three men during 24-hour stop-and-check operations, police and local media reported. Authorities say the two escapees, identified as Jose Almestica and John M. Burgos, remain at large and dangerous, and residents are urged to remain vigilant and to contact police with any information.
The Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) stepped up patrols across the Territory this week after a series of violent incidents, including the October 25 prison escape and a shooting in Purcell Estate, local media and police said. Over a 24-hour period of intensified operations, officers carried out high-visibility patrols and targeted stop-and-search and stop-and-check actions.
Those efforts led to the recovery of two firearms and the arrest of three males on Tuesday night, according to a police release reported by Virgin Islands News Online (VINO) and coverage by JTV and Guavaberry. Acting Commissioner of Police Jacqueline E. Vanterpool confirmed the increased activity and praised officers for their work. “The RVIPF remains fully engaged in both the ongoing manhunt and in tackling the recent spate of robberies.
Our officers are working around the clock to disrupt criminal activity, recover illegal weapons, and ensure that residents feel safe in their communities,” she said (quoted in JTV, Guavaberry and the RVIPF release published by VINO). Police have not released further details about the three men arrested while inquiries continue, but confirmed they remain in custody and said formal charges will be announced when available (VINO).
The intensified operations form part of a coordinated push to remove illegal weapons from the streets and curb a recent surge in robberies affecting communities across the islands (JTV; Guavaberry). The escalated patrols also come after a shooting in Purcell Estate that left a Spanish-speaking male seriously injured, a development reported by BVI News.
Authorities told BVI News they are treating the shooting, the jailbreak and other recent violent incidents as connected elements of broader security risks, prompting the deployment of additional measures across districts. The two inmates who escaped His Majesty’s Prison on October 25 were identified by police as Jose Almestica and John M.
Both remain at large and are considered dangerous; the RVIPF warned residents not to approach either man and to contact police immediately with any information (VINO; BVI News). Police urged the public to remain vigilant and to take basic precautions: secure homes and vehicles, avoid leaving keys in unattended cars, ensure vehicles are locked, and make use of exterior lighting and surveillance where available (RVIPF release reported by local outlets).
Officers will maintain a visible presence across the islands while the manhunt and investigations continue. Members of the public with information about the escapees, the recovered firearms, the Purcell Estate shooting, or other recent criminal activity are asked to contact the RVIPF at 368-9339 or 311, or provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers at 800-8477.
The RVIPF thanked residents for ongoing cooperation and asked anyone who sees suspicious behaviour or the escapees to report it immediately (VINO; BVI News).
Primary source: JTV