On Friday, Nov. 15, during “Operation Set De Tone,” police officers conducted a traffic stop and found 19-year-old Jorge Ayala in possession of an illegal firearm, the V.I. Police Department reported.
Officers with the Virgin Islands Police Department’s Special Operations Bureau conducted the stop on a silver Toyota Camry on Melvin Evans Highway near Industrial Road, St. Croix. The vehicle displayed several traffic violations, including the lack of rear taillights, brake lights, and a license plate, according to the police report.
During the stop, officers observed Ayala, a passenger in the vehicle, appearing to possess a firearm. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed a black .45 caliber handgun with a 17-round magazine located on the floorboard. Ayala claimed ownership of the weapon, but he lacked the required license, the police report stated.
Ayal was subsequently arrested and charged with carrying a firearm openly or concealed and possession or sale of ammunition. His bail was set at $50,000, the report stated.
The case is currently under investigation, police said.
