Man arrested for illegal gun, ammunition near Pueblo Golden Rock

CHRISTIANSTED — A St. Croix man faces illegal gun and related charges after being pulled over for a traffic stop near the Golden Rock Shopping Center on Saturday afternoon, authorities said.

Jose Pesante, 36, was arrested Saturday and charged with carrying of a firearm openly or concealed and possession or sale of ammunition, the Virgin Islands Police Department said. Officers assigned to the Special Operations Bureau (SOB) Tactical Team as part of “Operation Set De Tone” were on patrol on Northside Road about 1:01 p.m. Saturday, according to the VIPD.

As officers in a patrol vehicle approached G Max Service Station in Golden Rock, they observed a Toyota Tacoma pickup being operated by an Hispanic male who was not wearing a seatbelt, police said. The Toyota Tacoma suddenly made a U-turn in the roadway and drove back into the area of G Max Service Station, according to police. SOB Officers conducted a traffic stop and as the driver, Jose Pesante, police said.