Karate Georgie strike again ... Former cop disarms gunman

Former policeman Clive 'Karate Georgie' Lawrence rolled back the years in Farm Heights in Montego Bay, St. James, yesterday when he single-handedly confronted and disarmed a gunman, preventing a possible murder.

Lawrence, who resigned from the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) five years ago, was sitting in his car at a car wash in Farm Heights at about 1 p.m. when a man rode up on a motorcycle, pulled a firearm from his waistband, and began chasing an employee at the car wash.

Lawrence immediately sprang into action. He pulled his licensed firearm and confronted the gunman, who he ordered to surrender the weapon.

"I heard people shouting that I should kill him," said Lawrence. "There was no need to shoot him .... he surrendered and was begging for his life."

FEAR ANDRESPECTHIM

The gunman, who was later identified as 39-year-old Richard Omar McLeish, of a Farm Heights address, was arrested on the spot. A Smith & Wesson 99mm pistol, which he had in his possession, was seized.

"A man like 'Karate Georgie' shouldn't leave the force, criminals fear and respect him," remarked a resident.

"From de man se seh a the great Karate Georgie him tun idiot ... him just stand up. Him tremble like a leaf."

Last November, Lawrence shot and injured two of six gunmen who tried to rob him in the volatile Russia community in Savanna-la-mar, Westmoreland.

"They started taking out my pouch and other things from the car when one of them recognised me, panic and shout out (expletive) a Karate Georgie," recalled Lawrence. "I dive out of the car, roll over and pull mi gun and start to war them. Two get shot and the others ran away."

The two gangsters, who were shot, were arrested when they showed up at the Savanna-la-mar Hospital. They were charged with illegal possession of firearms, shooting with intent, and robbery.

"Although I am no longer a serving member of the force, I am still a citizen of Jamaica," said Lawrence. "I care about my country and I am not going to stand by and watch a man commit murder and don't do anything," he said.