CNN
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One other US vacationer was arrested Monday in Turks and Caicos after being accused of carrying ammunition into the islands.
That makes this the fifth arrest in latest months of a US nationwide on ammunition possession expenses within the British Abroad Territory, a series of 40 islands situated within the tropical Atlantic Ocean southeast of the Bahamas.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Pressure mentioned in a information launch that Sharitta Shinese Grier, 45, of Orlando, Florida, was charged with one depend of possession of ammunition after a routine safety search on the Howard Hamilton Worldwide Airport on the island of Providenciales on Might 13. The search discovered that Grier had ammunition in her possession, the information launch mentioned.
Grier appeared within the Turks and Caicos Justice of the Peace Courtroom on Thursday and stays in custody till her subsequent court docket look on July 5, police mentioned.
CNN has not been in a position to decide whether or not Grier has an lawyer or to succeed in her household for remark.
Earlier this month, the Turks and Caicos Authorities launched a statement confirming that 4 Individuals had been charged with possession of ammunition offenses. All 4 are accused of bringing various quantities of ammunition into the islands, and a few have publicly mentioned that they did so by accident.
Carrying firearms in Turks and Caicos is prohibited, in response to the TCI Authorities. Bringing firearms or ammunition, together with stray bullets, into the British Abroad Territory with out prior permission from police is “strictly forbidden.”
People who violate the regulation face a minimal 12 years in jail, the US Embassy within the Bahamas acknowledged in an April advisory. On Might 8, the Turks and Caicos Legal professional Common mentioned in a news release that judges have discretion to decrease the minimal sentence and modify fines when there are “distinctive circumstances.”
One of many US nationals dealing with expenses, Bryan Hagerich, is anticipated to be sentenced on Might 29, in response to a lawyer representing him. Hagerich pleaded responsible to possession of 20 rounds of ammunition and was detained at Hamilton Worldwide in February.
Three US governors have signed a letter addressed to Turks and Caicos Gov. Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam addressing the latest arrests.
Govs. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania and Glenn Youngkin of Virginia wrote to their Turks and Caicos counterpart asking her to “rethink the fees” and “expedite their launch” for 3 of the boys arrested – one from every of the governors’ respective states.
“They’ve all maintained that they didn’t intend to convey ammunition into Turks and Caicos,” the three governors wrote within the letter. “We humbly ask that your authorities – in its knowledge – mood justice with mercy and acknowledge that these males made errors however had no obvious malicious intent.”