Police Say No Relation Between Castro Bust and Firearm Recoveries
Noel Leal
Back to this afternoon’s press conference. Home Affairs Minister Wilfred Elrington has gone on record to say that neither Cameron Usher Senior nor Kelvin is known for run-ins with the law. We asked whether the marijuana bust on Sarstoon Street and the subsequent recovery of firearms within that area on Saturday night may in any way be related. According to Acting ComPol Noel Leal, there are no indications to suggest that both incidents are connected. As far as B.D.F. helicopters being used in the search and rescue effort, Elrington says that government will expend all resources but that the B.D.F. will determine when and how to use the helicopters.
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington, Minister of Home Affairs
“I think what is significantly important in this particular incident is that neither the father nor the son is known to be a criminal in any way. These are not people whom the GSU would have had in their sights and they have some kind of animosity towards. As a matter of fact, one of the police officers was saying to me that he was not even aware that the father would have been involved in anything like this because he often patronizes the father who has a little food stand at the B.T.L. Park. So he was very surprised to see him in the field. So that there was no animosity on the part of the GSU towards these people, neither the father nor the son.”
Isani Cayetano
“By any chance sir, is there a correlation between what transpired over the weekend at Sarstoon Street, in reference to the marijuana discovery and the weapons that were subsequently produced, and this particular incident? I’m only asking because the address given for Mr. Usher is within the same geographic region of Sarstoon and Sibun Streets. Is there any overlap in terms of information coming your way as the investigators?”
ACP Noel Leal, Acting ComPol
“No. From the Special Branch briefings that I’ve had and we are having them on a daily basis and since this incident, almost on a hourly basis, there is no information to indicate that both situations are tied or connected. No such information.”
Isani Cayetano
“I’ve also noticed that the police department for whatever reason has been rather delegate in terms of dealing with this matter, particularly with regards to sharing information before now with the media. Can you explain why there has been sort of a silence, if I may, or trepidation to address the media upfront?”
ACP Noel Leal
“It is not intentionally, but we do have a media policy and if you all could recall—and you all were a part of the formation of this policy—was that Commissioner or his designate or whoever he duly authorizes, would give permission for any commander to give any press briefing. But what we are trying to do is to try to stick to the press releases that we have from the Public Relations Office. So it is not really any intention not to communicate with the media; it is just that we are trying to stick to the media policy and trying to ensure that whatever information we give are the facts.”
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington
“The government has resources to buy gas and the government has acquired two beautiful helicopters…”
Reporter
“…whenever there are missing people in a vast uninhabited area that helicopters will be…”
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington
“We leave it to the experts. They advice the government that these things are necessary, the government is going to ensure that in fact it is used.”
Reporter
“And then for Mister Leal, sorry sir, one small little thing. Will you agree then that there are two inconsistencies and both involve the use of lethal fire? Warning rounds fine, but first that the rounds can’t be found. Second that no disclosure was made that “warning shots were fired” and third, there is a huge discrepancy between Ras Ruben’s account of fifteen shots fired and your account of four shots fired.”
Wilfred ‘Sedi’ Elrington
“Well that is very normal when you take evidence from different people; the people have different perceptions. We have fairly copious experience dealing with incidents relating to firearms over the years. And a team may go there, the forensic team might go there one day and not find the rounds, but go back the second day and do a more thorough search and find it. So it is not conclusive that they don’t exist or that they are not out there. The likelihood is that they are out there but we have not done a sufficient or thorough search. But the forensic people are on the ground with respect to it. With respect to the different amount of shots that were fired, we have different versions. But that is normal when you have different people who are witnessing these incidents.”
