Three men are facing charges after police allegedly found 31 rounds of high velocity ammunition in a vehicle they searched in the Road Town area on Sept. 20.

Jointly charged with unlawful possession of explosives are Cordell O’Neal, 38, of Fresh Water Pond; Kanmi O’Neal, 34, of Pockwood Pond; and Jelani Christopher, 31, of Cane Garden Bay.

The trio appeared Sept. 25 in Magistrates’ Court during a virtual sitting before Senior Magistrate Tamia Richards.

Mr. Christopher, who is represented by attorney Israel Bruce, pleaded not guilty.

The O’Neals, whose lawyer was not in court and could not be located, did not plead.

Black Mazda

Senior Crown Counsel Khadija Beddeau told the court that all three men were in a black Mazda that police stopped and searched on Pickering Road near the Botanic Service Station in the early evening on Sept. 20.

During the search, police found a black bag containing a magazine loaded with 31 rounds of ammunition, according to the prosecutor.

In subsequent interviews with police, she said, Cordell O’Neal claimed ownership of the ammunition, while Mr. Christopher denied knowledge of it.

Kanmi O’Neal declined to comment, according to the prosecutor.

The bail offers

Ms. Beddeau did not object to bail, and Ms. Richards offered each defendant $20,000 bail on the condition that they report three times a week to the Road Town Police Station.

They are scheduled to return to court on Nov. 9.

Stop and search

Police said last Thursday that they stopped and searched several vehicles on Sept. 20 after they received information that armed men were traversing Road Town and causing residents to fear for their safety.

The trio’s vehicle, they said, was among those stopped.

Police Commissioner Mark Collins thanked the community for its assistance.

“I appreciate the ongoing support from the public, and the force values their continued commitment to assisting us with maintaining safety and security,” he said.

Police are asking anyone with information about criminal activity in the territory to call the Intelligence Unit at 368-9339 or the anonymous Crime Stoppers tip line at 800-8477 (TIPS).