THE VIRGIN ISLANDS POLICE DEPARTMENT 
                                     “To Protect and Serve” 
       Office of the Commissioner 
 
 
AAF Justice Complex, 5400 Veterans Drive St. Thomas, 00802 * (340) 774-2211 
Administrative Services Building 45 Mars Hill, Frederiksted St. Croix, 00840 * (340) 778-2211 
 
www.vipd.vi.gov 
 
VIPD NEWS RELEASE - 042823-127 
For Immediate Media Distribution 
 
April 28, 2023  
 
Man Who was Observed Smoking Marijuana Led SOB Officers to Arrest 
Him on Firearm Charges 
 
St. Thomas, USVI – While the Special Operations Bureau (SOB) Unit were conducting 
inspections of the Carnival J’ouvert in the area of Veterans Drive on April 27, 2023, it was 
observed that an Afro-American male was smoking a marijuana cigarette.  
 
When officers made contact with the individual, he was identified as Shemar Coward, who 
was found in possession of an unlicensed firearm. The SOB Unit then took 22-year-old 
Shemar Coward into custody at 10:00 a.m. and transported him to the Alexander A. Farrelly 
Justice Complex where he was charged with Possession of an Unlicensed Firearm and 
Possession of Ammunition.  Coward was then processed, booked and remanded to the Bureau 
of Corrections pending his Advise of Rights Hearing. Bail was set at $50,000.00.  
 
This case is presently under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau. Anyone with 
any information regarding this crime is urged to contact 911, Criminal Investigation Bureau 
Detective S. Rhymer at (340)774-2211, ext. 5572 or Crime Stoppers V.I. at 1(800)222-TIPS. 
 
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