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Waterhouse players charged in missing cheque saga
December 29, 2022
The Waterhouse community is reportedly tense from an incident that originated with three players at the Waterhouse Football Club in which a cheque was stolen and the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) arrested 19-year-old Devonte Walker and 18-year-old David Edwards.
According to the information arm of the JCF, Corporate Communications Unit (CCU), Walker has been charged with assault at common-law, being in possession of a prohibited weapon, using a prohibited weapon to commit a felony and conspiracy.
The CCU did not state the charges against Edwards, however, both are in custody at the Duhaney Park Police Station. They are from the Waterhouse community along with the victim.
Walker, who has played in four of Waterhouse's Jamaica Premier League (JPL) seven matches this season and Edwards were arrested after the theft of another player's cheque at training earlier this month and allegations of a gun being involved afterwards.
One club source close to the situation states that the incident has the entire Waterhouse tense, with the victim and the accused being from different sections of the community, which are currently feuding and making the situation delicate.
"It is very delicate and there have been a lot of implications. All three players are from the community so it is not healthy. You have to tread lightly," the source cautioned.
The CCU report stated that about 7:30 p.m. on December 8, the victim was paid his monthly wages with a cheque. The victim reportedly placed the cheque in his pocket and left his belongings in the players' changing area. The cheque was missing when he returned.
The matter was reported to the police, who according to the CCU report, followed several lines of enquiry and Walker emerged as a suspect. During investigations, CCTV footage showed a man believed to be Walker cashing the missing cheque at a wholesale in Waterhouse about 7:45 the same night.
The CCU report alleges that Walker called the complainant to a location, held him at gunpoint and demanded he reports to the club that the money was returned. It said he also allegedly threatened the player not to return to training.
The STAR Sports source, however, alleges that Walker is also a victim and insists that he is innocent.
"When he (complainant) went to the station he told the police to ask Devonte if another player didn't have a gun. That is how Devonte got caught up but he didn't do anything.
"It is three youth players and they registered to play with the Premier League team, but now it is not a club matter but a police matter, and because of the sensitive nature no one (from the club) wants to come out and really talk," the source stated while indicating that they are all acquaintances.
Meanwhile, there are also other implications as the wholesale where the cheque was cashed had an arrangement with the club to change players' cheques but that is now in jeopardy.
"They didn't have to go to the bank because he would change them and he wouldn't ask for ID because the trust was there. Now that the police involved him, he is saying he is done with it," the source said.
The court date for Walker and Edwards is being arranged.
Walker was a substitute in three of the four matches that he played this season. He was a 70th-minute substitute when Waterhouse defeated Molynes 2-1 and was not figured at all in their 1-0 loss to Montego Bay United.
He returned in the 75th minute for their third game against Arnett Gardens, which they lost 2-0, before starting and being replaced in the 75th minute in their 1-0 victory against Vere United. In their match against Chapelton Maroons, which they lost, Walker was an 81st-minute substitute. He was not listed on the match sheet for their 1-0 loss against Mount Pleasant Football Academy and was in custody for their 0-0 draw with Dunbeholden yesterday.
Edwards play the entire match against Chapelton and Vere. He received a 40th-minute booking in the latter.
