Police on St. Thomas successfully resolved an almost five-hour standoff with Ashley Williams, a St. Thomas man who failed to turn himself in at the Superior Court on Monday, November 20, 2006. According to information provided to the Police Department, Williams is about to begin serving a prison sentence. Police and other emergency responders were dispatched to Mr. Williams’ home at approximately 5:00 p.m. on Monday, shortly after Superior Court Marshals sent to take him into custody found him barricaded inside and threatening to harm himself.

Tactical teams of the Police Department secured the area and established a perimeter after Mr. Williams alleged that he had a propane tank in the house and would blow up the home. There was no one in the house with Mr. Williams during the entire incident.

Police, family members and Superior Court Judge Leon Kendall were all unable to convince Mr. Williams to peacefully surrender. Officers assigned to the Street Enforcement Team, a Tactical Unit of the Virgin Islands Police Department, decided to enter the residence after evaluating Mr. Williams continued threats to harm himself.

Officers entering the home subdued Mr. Williams with a Taser gun, a non-lethal force weapon that applies electric shock, thereby ending the standoff at approximately 9:40 p.m.

Territorial Police Chief Novelle E. Francis, Jr. says that although the department does not often deal with hostage or standoff situations, he is pleased with the Department’s response and handling of the incident. “I am pleased that Police and our law enforcement and emergency responder partners were able to successfully resolve this situation without any injury or loss of life,” he states. Police Chief Francis commended St. Thomas Deputy Police Chief Elvin Fahie, VIPD and SET officers, Fire, St. Thomas Rescue, EMS and the Superior Court Marshals on the successful resolution of the operation.