As authorities processed a misdemeanor arrest for negligent driving on St. Thomas, they found the defendant had allegedly neglected something else. Court records say that discovery led to felony accusations for the errant driver.
A police report filed in Superior Court said the encounter with defendant Alvin Battiste III began with a 911 radio dispatch to Estates St. Joseph and Rosendahl. Upon arrival, officers said they found a vehicle partially suspended over a retaining wall.
The two occupants of the vehicle said they were not hurt. The driver — identified as Battiste — got out and started walking towards the officers. After failing a sobriety test and admitting he had spent the evening at a bar in Havensight, he was arrested and charged with negligent driving and driving while impaired.
While being detained at the Criminal Justice Complex pending a Monday court appearance, the investigation continued. That’s when authorities found a record from Georgia saying Battiste failed to appear at a scheduled court hearing there.
“(The) defendant was subsequently charged with being a fugitive from justice in the State Court of Cobb County, Georgia,” court records said.
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A St. Croix resident was arrested and charged with grand larceny and conspiracy on May 9. Information contained in a police report says defendant Jerediah Morales was identified on a security camera recording leaving the Cost-U-Less in Sion Farm with two carts full of merchandise without paying. Morales, an 18-year-old and a 15-year-old minor were identified from the May 1 incident and taken into custody.
Store employees reportedly summoned police after observing the alleged theft. The estimated cost of the items amounted to $654.92.
All adult suspects made their initial court appearances in Superior Court Magistrate’s Division on Monday, on St. Thomas and St. Croix, respectively.
