Cuthbertson Thomas of Dominica, 20, was extradited Wednesday from Tortola, BVI, to St. Thomas based on three arrest warrants issued by Superior Court Magistrates of the Virgin Islands Allen Smith and Kathleen Mackay.
The charges as per the warrants are as follows:
• Warrant dated September 3, 2009: Attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, third-degree assault, child abuse, aggravated child abuse, first-degree reckless endangerment and unauthorized use of a firearm during the commission of a crime of violence. These charges are based on an assault that took place May 6, 2009, in the area of the Oliver Benjamin School, where a minor child was shot while in a school bus after school finished for the day.
• Warrant dated Sept. 16, 2009: First-degree assault, grand larceny, possession of a dangerous weapon, possession of an unlicensed firearm, brandishing or using a deadly weapon, third degree assault, and principals. These charges are based on an assault that took place Aug. 14, 2009, in the area of Frydendahl where an individual was robbed and shot.
• Warrant dated Nov. 4, 2009: First-degree murder, attempted second-degree murder, first-degree assault, possession of unlicensed firearm during the commission of a crime of violence and reckless endangerment. These charges are based on a murder and assault that occurred March 7th, 2009, in the area of the Lexus Night Club, Smith Bay, where Phillip George was shot and killed and other individuals were injured early that morning.
Bail total based on the warrants was $400,000. Unable to post bail, Thomas was remanded to the Bureau of Corrections pending his advise of rights hearing. It was further determined that Thomas, at the time of the occurrences, was in the Virgin Islands Illegally. A request will be made to detain Thomas based on this finding.
St. Thomas/St. John District Police Chief Rodney F. Querrard, Sr. said, “Thomas fled St. Thomas but based on the working relationship between British Virgin Islands Authorities and the Virgin Islands Police Department, information was shared resulting in Thomas being apprehended on Tortola where he remained in custody pending the extradition process”.
“I would like to thank the British Virgin Islands Authorities who worked along with us to ensure that this dangerous criminal was brought back to St. Thomas to face these charges,” Querrard said. “I would also like to thank the Department of Planning and Natural Resources Officers and St. Thomas Rescue personnel who assisted us in transporting Thomas back to St. Thomas. I would like to also thank Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Patrol for their assistance in this matter. I would be remiss if I did not thank the Department of Justice investigators, police supervisors, detectives and officers who worked these cases to make sure that Thomas was brought back to face these charges in these serious matters.”
Chief Querrard also thanked the community for coming forward and doing “what’s right“, to ensure that justice is gotten for the victims involved.