St. Croix Man Starts Fire on Hood of Vehicle

A St. Croix man ignited the hood of a vehicle on fire, the V.I. Police Department reported Saturday.

The 911 Emergency Call Center dispatched VIPD Thursday to the Frederiksted area where a person requested police assistance due to a man creating a disturbance, according to the report.

Upon arrival, police spoke with the victim and witnesses, who stated that 59-year-old Elvis Stapleton was creating a disturbance and then grabbed a gas container, poured it over a vehicle’s hood and ignited it, the police report stated.

Stapleton fled the area and subsequently was apprehended by police with no further incidents, the report stated.

Stapleton was charged with first-degree arson. He was unable to post the $75,000 bail, and he was transported to the John Bell Adult Correctional Facility, where he was remanded pending his advice of rights hearing at the Superior Court, police said