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'Cowboy' cracks whip on bikers
Published: Thursday | June 10, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight keeps an eye on a wrecker laden with motorbikes during a police operation in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Some suspected confederates of fugitive Christopher Coke are finding hideaways hard to come by after falling into a police dragnet in the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]business[/color][/color] district of Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, yesterday.
More than 20 stylish motorcycles were piled on to wreckers and towed away on the first day of what promises to be an ongoing operation being undertaken by the recently established Street Crimes Unit.
The operation was led by Superintendent Derrick
'Cowboy' Knight, who leads the St Andrew Central Police Division.
He told The Gleaner that the group was formed just over a month ago.
"The Street Crimes Unit which was established by the commissioner of police is focused on the acquisition of illegal goods from robberies, cash-for-gold, extortion and other offences which are committed on the streets," Knight told The Gleaner.
"We have seized over 20 bikes that have not met the requirements of the Road Traffic Act," he added.
Ten of the motorcycles were being loaded on to a wrecker late yesterday afternoon when a Gleaner news team visited the area.
A captivated crowd watched the drama unfold from the sidewalk adjacent to the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre as traffic crawled.
Running uptown
Knight told The Gleaner that the men were venturing uptown on motorcycles. "Tivoli (Gardens) is empty," he said.
"What we have picked up is that a number of the men downtown, having been released from custody, do not return there," he said.
"They find themselves in the Half-Way Tree Square, the transport centre and the Mandela Park area because of the increased security presence in western Kingston."
Knight told The Gleaner that some of the suspects were beginning to commit crimes such as larceny.
"They are grabbing persons' money while they leave the bank," Knight said.
"As a result, we have started an initiative where we focus on persons travelling on bikes."
Knight disclosed that one man was held yesterday with an unusually large quantity of money and jewels for which he was unable to account satisfactorily.
"He has been charged with breaches of the Second-hand Jewellery Act," Knight said.
The senior cop disclosed that the suspect was in possession of more than $100,000.
"We understand that he is out of the Clansman area in Spanish Town," Knight said, referring to one of the notorious gangs operating in the Old Capital.
"So he will be facing the court for unlawful possession of the money and the jewellery we found on him."
Knight revealed that the exercise would continue throughout the state of emergency and, possibly, beyond.
"These men must leave Half-Way Tree and find themselves somewhere else ... . I won't tolerate them here," he declared.
gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com
Published: Thursday | June 10, 2010 0 Comments and 0 Reactions
Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight keeps an eye on a wrecker laden with motorbikes during a police operation in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, yesterday. - Norman Grindley/Chief Photographer
Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer
Some suspected confederates of fugitive Christopher Coke are finding hideaways hard to come by after falling into a police dragnet in the [COLOR=orange! important][COLOR=orange! important]business[/color][/color] district of Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, yesterday.
More than 20 stylish motorcycles were piled on to wreckers and towed away on the first day of what promises to be an ongoing operation being undertaken by the recently established Street Crimes Unit.
The operation was led by Superintendent Derrick
'Cowboy' Knight, who leads the St Andrew Central Police Division.
He told The Gleaner that the group was formed just over a month ago.
"The Street Crimes Unit which was established by the commissioner of police is focused on the acquisition of illegal goods from robberies, cash-for-gold, extortion and other offences which are committed on the streets," Knight told The Gleaner.
"We have seized over 20 bikes that have not met the requirements of the Road Traffic Act," he added.
Ten of the motorcycles were being loaded on to a wrecker late yesterday afternoon when a Gleaner news team visited the area.
A captivated crowd watched the drama unfold from the sidewalk adjacent to the Half-Way Tree Transport Centre as traffic crawled.
Running uptown
Knight told The Gleaner that the men were venturing uptown on motorcycles. "Tivoli (Gardens) is empty," he said.
"What we have picked up is that a number of the men downtown, having been released from custody, do not return there," he said.
"They find themselves in the Half-Way Tree Square, the transport centre and the Mandela Park area because of the increased security presence in western Kingston."
Knight told The Gleaner that some of the suspects were beginning to commit crimes such as larceny.
"They are grabbing persons' money while they leave the bank," Knight said.
"As a result, we have started an initiative where we focus on persons travelling on bikes."
Knight disclosed that one man was held yesterday with an unusually large quantity of money and jewels for which he was unable to account satisfactorily.
"He has been charged with breaches of the Second-hand Jewellery Act," Knight said.
The senior cop disclosed that the suspect was in possession of more than $100,000.
"We understand that he is out of the Clansman area in Spanish Town," Knight said, referring to one of the notorious gangs operating in the Old Capital.
"So he will be facing the court for unlawful possession of the money and the jewellery we found on him."
Knight revealed that the exercise would continue throughout the state of emergency and, possibly, beyond.
"These men must leave Half-Way Tree and find themselves somewhere else ... . I won't tolerate them here," he declared.
gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com
Jeezas, every korner yuh turn, there is some illegal activity.
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