‘I just got a ride’- Man found in vehicle with loaded firearm
The duo was granted signed bail in the sum of $55,000 yesterday, May 4, 2020, when they made their maiden appearance before Magistrate Christilyn Benjamin.
They were jointly charged with two offences, Carrying a Firearm without a License and Unlawful Possession of Explosives.
Butler was charged with Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Drug, and Hooper was also charged for Driving a Vehicle without Third Party Insurance and Driving Without a Driver’s License.
The men were not asked to plead to the offences during their arraignment.
Allegations
Senior Prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mr O’Neil Simpson said, on April 28, 2020 members of the Armed Response Unit of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) were conducting traffic stops in Road Town.
While performing their duty, a vehicle with the duo was seen changing lanes and acting suspiciously, and officers signalled the driver to stop.
Simpson said the driver, who was later identified as Hooper, brought the vehicle to a stop, but fled the scene, leaving the passenger, Butler, inside the car to face the authorities.
Hooper was eventually caught in the area of John’s Hole, while his co-accused and the vehicle were searched.
The search revealed over 13 grams of cannabis, cash in the sum of $8,385.20 and a 9mm calibre pistol with seven rounds of 9mm ammunition inside.
I just got a ride
Simpson said, when the marijuana was found, Butler said: “Officer it is for my personal use.”
However, when the loaded firearm was found, he said: “I don’t know whose own is that, I just got a ride.”
He was then arrested and transported to the Road Town Police Station, where investigations commenced into the matter.
As part of the investigation, Simpson said, a search was conducted at the men’s home where police recovered paper cigars, cigarette papers and two digital scales.
When Hooper was questioned, he also denied knowledge of the firearm and he said the vehicle did not belong to him.
Attorney Mrs Valerie Stephens-Gordon represents Mr Hooper and Mr E. Leroy Jones represents Mr Butler.
Defendants
Mr Butler, the court heard, resides alone at Long Bay, West End, on the main island of Tortola and has Belonger status. He reportedly came to the VI at the age of 3.
According to his attorney, he is the father of two boys, aged 8 and 13, and does bush cutting and other ‘hands-on work’ for a living.
He previously had a “slight brush with the law” as he was found with a small amount of cannabis which he had intended to use for “recreation” and was made to pay a fine,” according to his attorney, Mr Jones.
Mr Hooper, according to his attorney Stephens-Gordon, has been residing in the Territory since the age of “10 or 11 years old” and lives with his mother in Huntums Ghut.
He is a single parent, being a father of a 2-year-old boy, and has no previous conviction.
According to Stephens-Gordon, her client previously worked at D. Orlando Smith Hospital but is currently unemployed.
She said Mr Hooper denies being the owner of the firearm and is also not the owner of the vehicle, which he did not have access to before.
“We will strenuously defend this matter,” Mrs Stephens-Gordon said.
The two men are scheduled to reappear before the court on June 18, 2020.
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15 Responses to “‘I just got a ride’- Man found in vehicle with loaded firearm”
he trying to save himself
The trained and experienced detectives and other royal police officers of her majesty's RVIPF with directions from the office of the DPP will compile the necessary facts and information, which will be converted into evidence of sworn testimony before a court of law, where the accused men will be tried fairly, independently, within a reasonable time by the courts,under the provisions of fundamental rights and freedoms,as declared in the BVI Constitution.
It is their fundamental right to be tried in a court of law.
They will be given that right to prove their innocence or for the dpp to prove their guilt. Give them their rights.
The Constitution,has identify them to be innocent until the dpp present evidence under oath to convince a court of law,beyond a reasonable doubt,that they are guilty as charged.
The trial will be at the expense of the state,and tax payers,because,the state must pay for court expenses.Crime cost the Government and the people a lot of money to manage and control.
We in the BVI will never support criminality,in our society,because crime [murders] bring sorry to our families.
Support the lawful actions of the police,and encourage them.Dont encourage criminals.They are bad for society.
If these accused men are found guilty,in summary magistrate court, I recommend the Maximum fine of 5000.00 or at lease, 18 months in prison,according to law.
Legal team is not in a position to call these men bad, criminal,or gangster.
The court will decide,based on the evidence.
Justice will be served.
East full of snitch look at scar n now h**p n deh z6 man dem kill inocent ppl set of clown with gun