Man disarmed by ‘Karate Georgie’ gets four years

Richard Omar McLeish, the man who was disarmed of an illegal firearm by former top-flight policeman Clive 'Karate Georgie' Lawrence in Montego Bay, St James, last month, has been sent to prison.

The 39-year-old McLeish, who is of a Farm Heights address in Montego Bay, was sentenced to four years and five months in prison after he pleaded guilty to the charges of illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition and assault at common law in the western Regional Gun Court last Friday.

"I am happy he pleaded guilty and did not waste the court's time," said Lawrence. "Four years in prison is not a long time, so I hope he will learn from this experience and come back a better man."

On the day of the incident, Sunday, October 28, Lawrence, who resigned from the Jamaica Constabulary Force five years ago, was sitting in his car at a car wash in Farm Heights when McLeish rode up on a motorcycle, pulled a firearm from his waistband, and began chasing an employee at the car wash.

On seeing what was happening, Lawrence sprang into action. He pulled his licensed firearm and confronted McLeish, who he ordered to surrender the weapon. The gunman complied. He was subsequently disarmed, arrested, and charged.