Police try to cool off cycle of gang violence
Meanwhile, police have responded to vocal accusations made by residents that their neighbourhood is being targeted for harassment.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“We continue to receive complaints from residents in the George Street area of the random sound of gunshots being fired within the George Street area.”
Jacqueline Godwin, Reporting
But it was not the sound of gunshots the police responded to around five on Monday evening, but word that possible violence may erupt as a result of the murder of twenty-two year old Alpheus Smith Junior.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“We had gathered a pre-intelligence that something was about to happen and based on that we got together a couple teams and we went to the George Street area to conduct operations within that area. We encountered a few hostilities and the police were able to overcome those hostilities and we brought in a couple of players from the George Street area.”
Area residents complained that the police used excessive force by discharging their firearms in public, claiming that the bullets injured two young men: Shelton Tillett, better known as Pinky, and John Baptist. But Senior Superintendent of Police and the Deputy Commanding Officer of Eastern Division, Chester Williams, told us why only one of the reported cases is being investigated.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“As far as I am concern, we do not have any information as to any Shelton Tillett being shot by any bullet. We have a person John Baptist who had a slight graze on his feet. He is complaining that it was as a result of a gunshot being fired by the police, but from what we are seeing it does not look like a gunshot. We sent him to the doctor and the doctor will confirm whether or not it is the result of any gunshot and where the shot may have come from.”
Jacqueline Godwin
“Were any shots fired from the police weapons yesterday?”
Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“From what I understand Jackie, the police went into the area, they encountered a few hostilities. The police have to go into the George Street area prepared and armed because we know what they will encounter when we go into the George Street area. One officer reported that yes he encountered a few difficulties and he had to fire two warning shots and that was done.”
For sometime now the police have been responding to incidents arising from an ongoing rivalry between the George Street crew and Back-A-Town group, but things had remained relatively quiet until the killing of George Street loyalist Alpheus Smith Junior who is believed to have been murdered by members of the Back-A-Town group. On Monday, Lester Young, and brothers, Linton and Jody Gentle were charged for the crime. In an attempt to quash the feud, this morning the police launched yet another operation that resulted in the detention of key individuals from both sides.
Sr. Supt Chester Williams
“We are trying to get these people together to have a talk with them. We have a couple of information as to threats being made by different groups to the other group. So based on that we conducted an intense operation this morning aimed at targeting players from both groups and we have in custody at this time Shelton Tillett, we also have in custody James Young, we have in custody Brian Brown, and some other major players from both sides including Big Tom.”
Williams says as they continue to investigate the Smith murder, they will be doing whatever they can to make peace between the two rival groups.
According to Williams, a meeting with the two groups is scheduled for Wednesday. He says it will not only be a police effort but that they will be inviting key individuals from the public and private sector to be a part of the dialogue.
