Oct. 1, 2001 — A St. Croix man is in critical condition at the island’s hospital after being shot by police over the weekend.
According to St. Croix Deputy Police Chief Novelle Francis, Michael Herbert, 27, was shot once by an officer at about 9 p.m. on Saturday in the Mon Bijou area. At 8:56, officers reportedly observed a car parked at the rear of the La Loma Supermarket and then approached to investigate.
Francis said the officers could see two men in the vehicle and as they approached the "driver of the parked car go out and fled on foot with a firearm in his hand."
An officer gave chase and in the process Herbert was shot once, Francis said. Herbert was taken to the Juan F. Luis Hospital where he remains in critical condition. A .357 caliber automatic handgun was recovered from the scene, Francis said.
"As per contractual agreement, the name of the police officer cannot be released at this time," Francis said. "However, he was treated at the Juan Luis Hospital for minor injuries and released."
The shooting is under investigation by the police department’s Criminal Investigation Bureau and the Internal Affairs Unit.
In June, a 17-year-old high school boy was shot and killed by police after he lunged at his mother and police officers with a 9-inch kitchen knife during a domestic dispute.
