Police targeting known 'violence producers' in St. Catherine SOEs

By Lorraine Walker    

 

With the entire parish of St. Catherine now under a State of Public Emergency, the police are again seeking to assure that the measure is not meant to oppress law-abiding citizens.

 

An SOE was declared for St. Catherine North on Tuesday morning, and imposed in St. Catherine South last week.

 

Acting Assistant Commissioner Christopher Phillips, head of the Police Area Five, says the police know who they are targeting.

 

"Both divisions have their list of violence producers, persons of interest, wanted persons, persons who know that this is all about them. We're going after those persons. I would say to our law-abiding citizens, don't be too concerned and get worked up about our operations now," he appealed.  

 

The curfew hours during the SOE begin at 9 p.m. on weekdays and 10 p.m. on weekends.

 

Meanwhile, Acting ACP Phillips said the police have detained a person of interest in relation to the murder of three male relatives in Central Village on January 8. Additionally, a man is in police custody in relation to the seizure of an AK-47 rifle in the community. The police are also reporting that they seized more than 50 rounds of ammunition in Tawes Meadows.

 

The acting assistant police commissioner had a warning for persons of interest who have fled the parish. 

 

"We're going to go after all those persons running up and down out of St. Catherine. Anywhere you run to and we need you, we're going to come for you right there, because we find that most of the key persons have already gone out of the parish, but we're going to come at you just the same," he pledged.