Crime Brief: Pipe-Wielding Assailant Arrested on St. Thomas

Police responded to an emergency call from a food vendor on Kronprindsens Gade, who said she was threatened and robbed by someone who had disrupted her business before. The incident was reported on Oct. 26.

The victim of the alleged robbery said she feared for her life when the accused — later identified as Katanio Peets — entered the shop armed with a metal pipe. The vendor told police she ordered the man to leave, but he became agitated and began swinging the pipe, saying he wanted to hit her.

The disturbance ended with the accused taking food and drinks from the shop before leaving.

A report filed with the Magistrate’s Division at Superior Court said police found Peets a short distance away, near the Windward Passage Hotel, with a half-eaten piece of fish on the ground near his feet. Other items allegedly taken from the shop included a 750 ml bottle of Hennesey and bottles of beer.

Peets was charged with multiple offenses, including assault, possession of a dangerous weapon during the commission of a crime, disturbance of the peace by making threats, and petit larceny.

After his arrest, the defendant appeared before Superior Court Magistrate Paula Norkadis on Friday. He was remanded to the Criminal Justice Complex and ordered to appear for arraignment on Nov. 17.