Jermaine Ottley charged for possession of drugs and undersized conch

Jermaine Ottley

Less than a month ago, Belize City Stevedore, Jermaine Ottley, a resident of Allenby Street claimed that the Gang Suppression Unit had used excessive force on him. But this morning, Ottley was before the courts on a Drug Possession charge which soon lead to another charge. Ottley was first arraigned for a single count of Possession of Controlled Drugs and was escorted to the Queen Street station. The GSU is claiming that on Tuesday, Ottley had one point six grams of marijuana. He pleaded not guilty to that charge, but was escorted back to the Queen Street Station where he was served with fisheries offenses. Allegations by the Fisheries Department are that early this morning, he was found in the possession of conchs during the closed season and undersized lobster. When he appeared before Magistrate Hettie Mae Stewart this afternoon, he was charged for one count of Possession of Conch during the Closed Season and for Possession of Undersized Lobster.  According to Fisheries Officer, Maurice Westby, when they visited Ottley’s house this he had seven conchs and ten  lobsters tails in his refrigeration which were wrapped and sealed tightly in a garage bag. In August, Ottley and well-known George Street associate, Brandon Tillett, alleged that they were beaten by GSU officers who invaded his house. No charges were levy against Ottley, but Tillett was charged for wounding one of the officers. Ottley also has pending drug related offenses before the court against the GSU.