Suspected St. James gang member held during police operation

By Clinton McGregor    

 

A suspect linked to a newly formed gang in Mount Salem, St. James, is in hospital under police guard following his capture during a police operation on Tuesday.

 

The cops seized an AK-47 rifle, a magazine with twenty-six 5.56 rounds of ammunition, masks and firearm cleaning apparatus during the operation conducted in Rosemount, Mount Salem.

 

The St. James police conducted the pre-dawn operation in search of wanted men and illegal guns.

 

Superintendent Eron Samuels, head of the St. James Police, said the suspect was held while attempting to elude the police.

 

"During the operation, one male was being interviewed when he was searched and a key for a premises found on him. Whilst the police officers were about to reach the premises, he ran off, jumped over a fence and injured himself along a hilly terrain."

 

When the police retrieved him, they realised "his two legs were badly damaged and broken in several areas". 

 

The man was taken to hospital. 

 

Superintendent Samuels lauded the work of the officers involved in the operation. 

 

"We are very happy with this find, as we have been receiving information that there were firearms in this space and shots being fired in the night. I must applaud the work of the police officers in being diligent in searching for these weapons, and we continue to push to ensure that we rid the streets of St. James of illegal weapons," he said. 

 

He said the operation was part of a crackdown on criminal activity in the parish.