Representatives of the human rights watchdog visited the country from December 1-5 at the invitation of the Government.

Its preliminary report said though there was some openness among members of the police to dialogue with civil society in a bid to solve crime, the high number of police shootings and a lack accountability, in many cases, have created a culture of impunity.

“This lack of credibility, in turn, seriously limits the capacity of the police to respond to crime, creating a vicious cycle that must be broken if progress is to be made in the restoration of peace and order,” stated the IACHR report.

During their visit, IACHR officials met with Prime Minister Bruce Golding, civic organisations, Jamaicans For Justice and the Independent Jamaica Council for Human Rights.

Hundreds of killings

“Statistics indicate that, since 2004, over 700 people have been killed by police officers. According to these statistics, during 2007, police shot and killed 272 people, and shot and injured another 153 people,” outlined the report.

It continued: “As of September 2008, reports indicate that police had shot and killed 158 people since the beginning of the year.”

Data revealed that there were a total of 46 police killings in October and November.

The commission said while in Jamaica, it was informed that a large number of the deaths occurred in circumstances consistent with extrajudicial executions at the hands of police officers.

“Sources indicated that victims are often young men or boys from the inner cities and that in some instances they are unarmed and pose no threat to police. In addition to the use of lethal force, the commission was informed that police use measures of excessive force and arbitrary arrest and detention, further aggravating the situation of fear and victimisation of the population,” stated the IACHR.

The commission, however, noted that within the context of violence, police personnel, many of whom serve with dedication, also become victims. The IACHR also highlighted the fact that over the last 12 years, an average of one member of the security forces has been killed every month. In the last four years, 20 police personnel have been killed per year.

Courtesy: Jamaica Gleaner

“We ran into the bushes and mi brother drop and him start chop up mi brother then him turned to mi sister and start chop her up,” said an obviously traumatised Shaday.

Her brother, 13-year-old Dwayne Wilson, a student of Hayes All- Age School, and her sister, 11-year-old Samantha Wilson, were both taken to the Lionel Town Hospital in serious condition.

Samantha was later transferred to the Mandeville Public Hospital.

The Lionel Town police are also alleging that the man, 55-year-old David Nugent, said to be of unsound mind, had chopped another man in the community earlier. The first incident was not serious and the man had already been treated.

The police have since charged Nugent with three counts of wounding with intent.

Courtesy: Jamaica Gleaner

These female culprits are said to be versed in the cutting of handbags and even go as far as to switch shopping bags, leaving behind one which holds nothing but a big stone decorated with wrapping paper.

“They walk with their bag which has a big stone covered with pretty paper and stand beside someone who also has a bag and switch the bags … so they leave with goods and the other person is left with a big stone,” Special Inspector Joseph Donaldson of the Darling Street police told THE STAR.

Express fear

Most persons with whom THE STAR spoke admitted to knowing of these thieves and even went on to express fear of becoming victims.

“Di tiefin’ woman dem a gwaan a way dung ya … . Nobady cyaa have dem bag an put it dung a dem foot careless … if yu do dat when yu look, dem gone wid yu goods and lef yu wid a bid ol’ stone,” one vendor, 38-year-old Maxine Jackson, who plies her trade throughout the streets of downtown, told THE STAR.

“Mi hear bout dem and mi fraid mi naw lie … look how time hard, yu can imagine mi buy up mi likkle tings dem an when mi look is a big stone mi have … weh mi can do wid dat?” a woman who gave her name only as Ms Grant replied when asked if she has heard of the bag-switching women.

More prominent

According to the special inspector, thieves have always been finding creative ways of carrying out their criminal acts but have become more and more prominent as Christmas nears.

“It’s Christmas time, so they are out in numbers,” Special Inspector Donaldson simply said before adding that the police have made a number of arrests and will continue to work in order to bring the suspected thieves to justice.

Donaldson related a recent incident in which the licensed firearm of a policewoman fell through her handbag after it was cut by a thief as she went about her business through the busy streets.

“A woman cut her bag and when the gun fell everybody ran … afterwards we found out she was a police,” Special Inspector Donaldson said.

As such, the police are urging shoppers to be extra careful, when going about their business. “We are urging persons to be very careful especially when going through the wholesales,” he said.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star

He is Napel Samuels who is reportedly facing charges of shooting with intent and the illegal possession of firearm.

The police suspect Samuels to be one of the main players in the ongoing feud between the One Order and Klansman gangs.

The six-hour operation was carried out at a dance which was being held along Wellington Street near Tawes Pen in Spanish Town.

In addition to those detained, a quantity of marijuana, ice picks, knives and scissors were also seized. Ten of the 135 persons who were detained were later released. Up to late yesterday, the others were still in police custody.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star

Charged with four counts of murder are Damion Murray and Otis Brown, 19 and 17 years old, respectively, both of Bottom Pen, Glendevon, in the parish. Oneil Murray, 21, was earlier charged for illegal possession of firearm and ammunition and shooting with intent.

The four killed are Albert Smith, 46; Richard Henry, 19; Ricardo Wauchope, 13; and his 16-year-old brother Richard Wauchaupe, all of Fisher Lane, Norwood.

Police had reported that about 1:50 a.m. on Thursday, November 20, a number of men, armed with guns, went to a house at Fisherman Lane in Norwood where they shot and killed Ricardo.

They then went to another house on the premises where they shot and killed Smith, Henry and Richard Wauchope. The hoodlums then set the house ablaze. The police were called and the victim’s bodies removed to the morgue.

Immediately following the murders, all four were arrested. However, Oneil Murray was charged the same day and was taken before the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Thursday, November 27.

Damion Murray, Otis Brown and the 17-year-old youth were on Saturday positively identified at an identification parade. They were subsequently charged. All four are scheduled to appear in the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, December 17.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star

The three are Sheldon Henry, 21, accountant of Barbican Road; Winston Allen, 40, marketing representative of West Avenue, both in Kingston 8; and Kevin Britton, 27, of Chisolm Avenue, Kingston 13.

Henry was charged with eight counts of falsification of account and eight counts of larceny as a servant. Allen was charged with obtaining money by false pretence and five counts of uttering false documents while Britton was charged with obtaining money by means of forged documents, forgery and uttering forged documents.

Utility bills

Police reported that during August 13 to December 1 this year, Henry prepared cheques - amounting to $6.4 million - to pay utility bills for the EOJ.

The police said the signature of a signing officer was forged and the names on the cheques changed to those of Allen and Britton. The cheques were eventually and lodged into the men’s accounts. The money was withdrawn from the bank at a later date.

The fraud was discovered and the matter reported to the Fraud Squad. Following investigations, the three were arrested on December 9. They are scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area resident Magistrate’s Court in Half-Way Tree, St Andrew, today.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star

He has been identified as 20-year-old Lemard Campbell of Rushden Road, Kingston 2.

Police reports are that about 9:15 a.m., the policeman was driving his vehicle along Windward Road where he stopped to speak with a friend.

While doing so, an armed man approached and demanded money from the two.

The off-duty policeman pulled his service firearm and a shoot-out ensued during which Campbell was hit. A 9mm Beretta pistol with five rounds of ammunition was taken from him.

He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star

The man’s name is being withheld pending further investigations.

Police reports are that at 3 p.m., a police team was on patrol in the community when a man was seen running into a building upon seeing them. The lawmen gave chase.

The man was caught and searched and a 9mm pistol with seven rounds of ammunition taken from him.

A long-standing feud between the Boston and the Lynch Mob gangs have had residents of Waterford cowering in fear.

In the other incident, 23-year-old Maurice Mais, of Garvey-meade was charged with illegal possession of a firearm after he was allegedly found with a .38 Smith and Wesson revolver with several rounds of ammunition.

ran into house

According to reports, about 1 a.m., the police were patrolling a section of Garveymeade when Mais was seen running into a house.

The police chased him and he allegedly threw an object under a chair. The police conducted a search and the illegal firearm was found.

Mais is booked to appear in the Spanish Town Resident Magistrate’s Court next Tuesday.

Courtesy: Jamaica Star

In December 2003, Garcia and two associates allegedly traveled to a residence in Laredo, Texas, with the intent of provoking a fight with another group of young men. Upon arriving at the residence, Garcia reportedly pulled out an AK-47 assault rifle and opened fire into the group, killing 18-year-old Mario Gonzalez and wounding three others. Authorities arrested Garcia the day after the murder, but he was out on bond within weeks.

Garcia was into trouble again by August 2004, when he allegedly shot and wounded a young man after an argument over stereo speakers. Garcia was arrested for attempted murder and again posted bond. He was later indicted for murder when the young man died from his wounds. Four months later in December 2004, authorities arrested Garcia for possession of drugs. He posted bond and apparently decided to try life on the run. Garcia was scheduled to appear in court in March 2005, but he was a no-show and authorities have been looking for him ever since.

In January 2006, the Laredo Police Department and the Webb County Sheriff’s Department contacted the U.S. Marshals Gulf Coast Violent Offenders and Fugitive Task Force – Laredo Division for assistance in locating and apprehending Garcia. He was classified as a U.S. Marshals Major Case until being upgraded today to the 15 Most Wanted.

“Garcia has displayed a propensity for violence and continues to live a life of crime. Capturing him is one of our highest priorities,” said Director John F. Clark of the U.S. Marshals Service. “We will use all available resources to bring this violent criminal to justice.”

Authorities suspect Garcia is a member of the Zetas, the enforcers for the Mexican Gulf Cartel. Garcia also is known to be associated with the Mexican mafia and is believed to be involved in the drug trade. He is likely living in Mexico and making frequent crossings into California and Texas.

Garcia is a 21-year-old Hispanic male, 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighs 150 pounds. He has brown eyes and black hair. He has scars on his left eye, chest and right ankle.

A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading directly to Garcia’s arrest. Garcia and his associates are known to be armed and extremely violent. If you have information about Joseph Allen Garcia’s whereabouts, immediately contact your nearest U.S. Marshals office or call the Marshals 24-hour hotline at 1-800-336-0102.

The U.S. Marshals Service is the nation’s oldest federal law enforcement agency. Annually, U.S. Marshals arrest more federal fugitives and serve more federal warrants than all other federal agencies combined. For more information on USMS 15 Most Wanted fugitives and USMS Major Cases, go to www.usmarshals.gov.

Pender, 29, was convicted in 2002 on two counts of murder. In 2000, Pender and her boyfriend purchased a shotgun and returned to their residence where they shot their two roommates. After killing the roommates, Pender and her boyfriend disposed of the bodies in a trash dumpster.

While serving her sentence, prison authorities believe Pender befriended a correctional officer, who allegedly helped her escape. Prison security footage on the day she escaped shows Pender walking toward a prison exit at the same time the guard drove into the facility to get gasoline. Authorities believe the guard hid her in the vehicle and drove her off the prison grounds where she met up with her get-away driver.

“Sarah Pender is a dangerous fugitive and poses a threat to anyone she comes in contact with,” said Director John F. Clark of the United States Marshals Service. “Pender’s addition as a 15 Most Wanted fugitive underscores our commitment to use all of our available resources to bring her to justice.”

The day after the escape, the Indiana Department of Corrections asked the Southern Indiana U.S. Marshals Task Force to take over the hunt for Pender. U.S. Marshals tracked down the get-away driver, Jamie Long, and arrested her shortly after the escape. Long was convicted in October and sentenced to seven years for her role in the escape. The corrections officer accused of aiding Pender’s escape is currently awaiting trial, facing charges for assisting in an escape, a Class C felony and trafficking an inmate, a class A misdemeanor.

Pender is a 29-year-old white female, with brown hair and blue eyes. She is 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighs 160 pounds. She has two distinguishing tattoos: a butterfly on her left breast and a blue and red target figure on her right buttock.

A $25,000 reward is offered for information leading directly to her arrest. If you have information about Sarah Pender’s whereabouts, immediately contact your nearest U.S. Marshals office or call the Marshals 24-hour hotline at 1-800-336-0102.