Alleged Threats Against Soberanis Fall Short of Criminal Case

Police are urging caution as they sort through troubling allegations involving Coast Guard Commander Rear Admiral Gregory Soberanis. In an official update, investigators say they’ve collected statements but haven’t found enough evidence, so far, to justify an arrest. Soberanis claims his home was targeted by gunfire while he was overseas, and that he was previously confronted and threatened by an armed man in Burrell Boom Village. But according to police, the matter is also playing out in the civil courts, and while the reported shooting remains under active investigation, authorities say the alleged threats have not yet crossed the threshold into criminal conduct. ASP Stacy Smith explains where the case stands tonight.

 

ASP Stacy Smith, Staff Officer

“The department is in possession of a number of statements in relation to an incident that occurred with Commandant Coast Guard and another individual. These statements were in police’s custody, and they were reviewed. However, as it stands now, the statement in and of itself do not convey elements of any arrestable offense. Whilst we do understand and appreciate the circumstance and the feeling of Commandant Coast Guard, and we empathize with him, we are guided by the law, and we are conducting further investigation. I was made to understand that it’s an ongoing situation, one that is also before the civil courts, and that may have been one of the reason why there was a level of concern, and rightfully so on his part to have felt that way. However, as I stated, we are guided by the law, and the statements that we have in our custody does not in and of itself conveys an arrestable offense. That is in relation to that particular incident. But  I was also made to understand that there was a previous incident that involves his residence when he was away, and that is certainly a matter that is being investigated. So the investigation remains ongoing for the incident as it relates to an alleged shooting of his residence.”

 

Soberanis claims his driver also witnessed the encounter and saw the man exit a vehicle while carrying a weapon. Both Soberanis and his driver filed official reports at the Hattieville Police Station.

 

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