Third officer arrested in sexual abuse of teen

Today police arrested and charged a third officer in connection with the sex scandal involving a fifteen year old girl. Twenty-three year old Detective Police Constable Jeremiah Usher was this evening arraigned in Magistrate’s Court for carnal knowledge. In a statement to police, the minor, who is now three months pregnant, referred to Jeremiah UsherCbetter known as JerryCas her boyfriend, claiming she had sex with him at least fifty times over their fifteen month relationship. On Thursday, police arrested two other constables: twenty-five year old Gilroy Usher and twenty-six year old Elton Elijio and charged them with carnal knowledge. The girl claims she was involved with them over a period of several months in 2005. Today I sat down with Commander of Police Internal Affairs, Superintendent Robert Mariano. He discussed the investigation, but cautioned that because the matter is before the court he could not go into the specifics of the case.

Supt. Robert Mariano, Commander, Internal Affairs Dept.
?Well the first report in relation to Gilroy Usher and Elijio was made in January of this year; and in relation to Jerry Usher, that report was made Tuesday of this week.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?As you did your investigation, what disturbed you the most about the information you received??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?The age of the child and the nature of the report; that?s what disturbed me the most.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?These incidents, they occurred over what period of time??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?January 2005 to March 2006.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?And the most recent involved all three officers or only one??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?One. And that would be the last report that was made.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?We understand the child is now three months pregnant. Have the police been able to determine who is the father of this child??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?No, we can?t tell them who is the father; at this stage no.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?There have also been reports emerging that the child and her family have also implicated a senior ranking member of the police. Do you know this to be the case??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?Well I have heard that before, but that is not true. Personally, I had interviewed the child myself. I had also interviewed the mother and the sister in relation to that information. That is only information that I have heard on the street, but because of the type of work that I do, I had asked that question in order to confirm and so far they have denied that allegation, they don?t know anything of such.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?Is it true that from these incidents started, the child?s family was aware of what was happening??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?Well I can?t say … I can?t say if they were aware because I haven?t asked them that question. But they were cooperative with me and they told me what they know.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?What took them so long to make this report??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?I can?t say why it took them this long. I don?t know if they know from the beginning. I am only the supervisor of the investigator and I wouldn?t want to go too much in the details investigation you know, so I cannot say.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?Is this the first time that so many officers have been implicated in one case and a case of this magnitude??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?That I could recollect, yes.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?How has this affected the police department??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?Well, to my mind the officer?s action, I don?t think the police department should be held responsible for that, every person is responsible for their own action in law. And as you can see for yourself, the police department allowed me to exercise my authority. I conducted the investigation and we arrested the officer and we will continue to deal with any officer who do any kind of criminal activity.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?Was there any attempt on the police to cover up this case??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?No, at no stage. From the first day the report was made?when the report was first made I was not working, I was on leave. But when I resumed duty I found the file on my table and the officers had commenced the investigation from since then. All that need to be done had already started by the investigating officer.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?Should we expect any more arrests to be made??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?No, the three police officer?s name was called and with this last one arrested today, all three have been arrested. No other police officer name have been called.?

Jacqueline Godwin
?Can you comment on whether or not there was some financial exchange between the family and the officers they have implicated??

Supt. Robert Mariano
?Not that I know about. We in the police department or myself as the Commander of Internal Affairs, so long as report come against any police officer and there is evidence to show that the officer commit the crime, they will be dealt. They will be arrested and charged criminally like any other person.?

Superintendent Mariano said some civilians are also under investigation at this time and there may be more arrests. On Thursday when P.C.’s Usher and Elijio appeared before Magistrate Margaret Gabb-McKenzie they were denied bail and remanded to Hattieville prison until May tenth. Today however, when Detective Usher appeared before Magistrate Dorothy Flowers he was granted bail in the amount of five thousand dollars. No conditions were attached to the bail. Surprisingly, the police did not supply the media with a photo of Jeremiah Usher, who is attached to the Crimes Investigation Branch.