ST. CROIX CRIME WATCH: Traffic Stop Leads to Firearms Arrests
CRIME WATCH: Mindo Byron (left) and Mitche Matthew Jr. (right) were arrested Monday evening after a traffic stop in the vicinity of Paradise Road led to the discovery of two loaded firearms and marijuana. (Photos by: VIPD)
By St. Croix Sun Staff
ST. CROIX — A routine traffic stop for a missing license plate ended with two men behind bars Monday evening after detectives discovered a pair of loaded handguns and narcotics tucked inside their SUV.
The encounter began at approximately 6:24 p.m. when Criminal Investigation Bureau detectives spotted a Dodge Durango traveling along Paradise Road without a rear plate. After pulling the vehicle over, officers identified the driver as Mindo Byron and the front-seat passenger as Mitche Matthew Jr.
ARRESTED: Mindo Byron was the driver of a Dodge Durango that police say was traveling without a rear license plate. Byron was unable to produce a driver's license or proof of insurance at the time of the stop. (Photo by: VIPD)
Police say Byron was unable to produce a driver’s license, registration, or proof of insurance, and a subsequent records check confirmed the vehicle was entirely unregistered and uninsured. While conducting a standard inventory of the Durango before it was towed, investigators located two loaded firearms, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia inside the cabin.
Neither Byron nor Matthew is authorized to carry firearms or ammunition in the territory, according to the Firearms Bureau.
The men were booked on charges including the open or concealed carrying of a firearm, possession of ammunition, and various traffic violations. Both were remanded to the John A. Bell Adult Correction Facility after they were unable to post the $50,000 bail set for each.
REMANDED: Mitche Matthew Jr., the front-seat passenger, was charged with carrying a firearm and possession of ammunition after a records check revealed he was not authorized to carry a weapon in the territory. (Photo by: VIPD)
In a world where Elon Musk is busy trying to put license plates on Starships, these two found out the hard way that even a Dodge Durango needs them on the ground in St. Croix.
