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Cabbie charged for raping teen

A St James taxi operator has been arrested and charged with forcible abduction and rape following an incident in his community on Monday, December 13.

The man is identified as 24-year-old Shemar Winter, of Tank Road in Cambridge,.

Reports from the St James Centre for the Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse are that a teenager was walking along the roadway when she was offered a ride by Winter. He subsequently drove to a lonely area in the community where he allegedly raped the teen. A report was made to the police and an investigation launched.

Winter was arrested on Thursday, December 16 along Barnett Street in the parish, after he was pointed out by the teen. He was later charged.

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Chef accused of beating and robbing senior citizen

One man has been charged with several offences following an armed robbery on Charles Street, Kingston, on December 13.

He is 33-year-old Edward Daley, otherwise called 'Junior', a chef of Charles Street, Kingston.

Reports from the Kingston Central police are that Daley was allegedly among a group of men armed with a firearm and knife, who robbed the senior citizen of his cellular phone, jewellery and money. The victim was also dealt several blows to his head and upper body, which caused him to be admitted to hospital.

Upon being released from hospital, the senior citizen saw Daley and pointed him out to the police. Daley was then arrested and charged with robbery with aggravation, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

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Two on firearm rap in Kingston

Two Kingston men have been slapped with charges of illegal possession of firearm arising from separate incidents.

One of the cases involves 33-year-old Fabian Cohen, labourer of Bellrock. He was arrested and charged after being allegedly found with an illegal firearm along Mahoe Drive on December 16.

Reports from the police are that about 1:50 p.m., a police team on patrol saw Cohen among a group of men inside a yard. The men started acting in a manner that aroused the suspicion of the officers. They were accosted and searched; a 9mm pistol was taken from Cohen.

He was taken into custody and subsequently charged, following an interview in the presence of his attorney.

In the other incident, 23-year-old Shamar Drysdale, labourer of Beresford Street, was charged in relation to the recovery of an illegal gun on Eastwood Park Road on Monday.

Reports from the police are that about 10:30 p.m., Drysdale saw a police team and stepped to a nearby fence where he removed a firearm from his waistband and threw it away. A Taurus PT-92 9mm pistol containing ten 9mm rounds was retrieved and Drysdale arrested.

He was charged following an interview in the presence of his attorney.

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Senior cop appeals for public support

Head of the St Catherine South Police Division, Superintendent Christopher Phillips, is encouraging residents of the Gregory Park community to partner with the police to create a safer community.

This comes as operational activities in the Gregory Park area have been intensified in recent days to include the imposition of a curfew.

"The security forces will continue to increase the operational activities in the Gregory Park area and other areas across the St Catherine South Police Division. We implore the citizens to cooperate with members of the security forces as we seek to restore order to the Gregory Park area and surrounding communities. Some activities will be temporarily disrupted during some of the operations as we aim to make the area safe for law-abiding citizens," Phillips said.

As of Saturday, there has been a 19 per cent increase in murders in the St Catherine South Police Division. Some 131 murders and 103 shootings have been recorded in the division.