A summer camp game ended up causing a bomb scare Friday in the vicinity of the entrance to the Sunny Islane Shopping Center Annex, the V.I. Police Department reported.
According to police the 911 center received a call at 9:10 a.m. Friday reporting a possible explosive device in the roadway near the shopping center. Officers and emergency personnel responded and confirmed the object.
Police closed off ongoing traffic and secured the area.
The FBI bomb unit flew to St. Croix to assist at 12:37 p.m., and arrived at the scene at 12:44 p.m. The bomb unit examined of the object and determined it was fake. Officers announced an all clear at 1:49 p.m.
Preliminary investigation revealed that a summer camp for students hosted by Youth with a Mission, located in the residential area behind the Sunny Isle Annex, was playing a game called “capture the flag” the night before and the replica of a bomb was placed on the truck for the campers to find.
The camp director told police the replica dislodged from its hiding place and fell on to the roadway in the vicinity of the annex on Friday.
This matter is under investigation by the Criminal Investigation Bureau and Human Services. Police yrged anyone with information about the incident to call 340-776-9110, the 911 emergency call center, or the anonymous tip service, Crime Stoppers USVI, at 800-222-8477.