Man charged with Attempted Robbery of ex-cop

The long arm of the law has finally caught up with Kareem Barona, wanted in connection with an attempted robbery at the Swing Bridge. Police have been looking for Barona since November twenty-eighth after a report by ex-police constable Javier Castellanos. They picked up Barona on Christmas Day while on patrol on Victoria’s Street and this morning he appeared in court. Barona pleaded not guilty to Attempted Robbery and was remanded into custody until February ninth. He joins Edmund “Shabba” Gladden who was remanded to prison earlier this month for the same crime. Castellanos told police that just before five on the day in question, he was on foot at the Swing Bridge when he was approached by two men on bicycle. It is alleged that the men tried to grab his nine millimetre pistol and his cell phone. When they failed, Castellanos says one of the men produced a pistol and in fear of his life, he did the same and fired off several shots. The bullets found their mark in Barona’s and Gladden’s legs. When the incident occurred, Barona claimed that he and Gladden were the victims of Castellanos who he had known for some time.