Press Release

Department of Justice Clears All Charges Against Police Officer

The Following is a Press Release issued by the VI Department of Justice

The Department of Justice has dismissed all charges previously filed against Officer Anderson Poleon in the District of St. Croix. Criminal charges were filed and a warrant was issued by the Superior Court on July 11, 2012. On Friday July 13, 2012, staff of the Attorney General located a document which indicated that the charges filed were not warranted. Upon this discovery the Department of Justice immediately took action to have the charges dismissed against the officer.

The Office of the Attorney General regrets the action filed which led to the arrest of this officer. There is no doubt that the Virgin Islands Police Department investigators which investigated this matter acted in good faith and conducted their investigation appropriately. The Attorney General Office recognizes that no person should be charged with a crime absent a thorough investigation and a good faith and reasonable belief by prosecutors that a crime had been committed and that the person to be charged had committed it. That is the standard required in a free society.

Deputy Attorney General Bruce Marshack noted, “We were reminded of that fact by this occurrence today and realize that we had fallen short of that standard on this occasion and immediately took steps to remedy that error. Justice is more than a word. It is the mission and the obligation of this office.” The Attorney General Office’s regrets this incident but believes that its action to take immediate steps to admit to the mistake and take remedial action was the right thing to do.