Businessman, Garnett Pellington, who was arrested along with Robinson and two others, was also charged with bribery, after he allegedly offered the police $200,000 to release him.

According to police reports, at approximately 4 p.m. on Sunday, one Julian Dillon allegedly arrived at a business place in Sydenham Park on a bicycle. He reportedly brandished a gun, and was immediately challenged by a plainclothes policeman who shot him. The gun was seized, and Dillon died of his injuries yesterday morning.

As news spread of his death, residents blocked the streets in protest, claiming that Dillon was killed in cold blood. The police’s Bureau of Special Investigations are reportedly investigating the matter.

“In its ongoing effort to clean up its performance, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has decided to set up a unit of its anti-corruption branch in St James, one of the most crime-infested parishes in Jamaica,” … more

Inspector Lloyd Wilson and constables Derrick Roach and Jermaine Bennett, all previously assigned to the Central Police Station, were charged with murder for the fatal shooting of Blake in premises along Ransford Road in downtown Kingston. They asserted that they went in search of Blake, and were forced to defend themselves after being fired upon by him. At the time of his demise, Blake was wanted on a number of charges, including murder.

One of the witness’ statements reportedly substantiated the defendants’ version of how Blake met his demise, while the missing witness (who happened to be  Blake’s common-law wife), did not say in her statements that she witnessed the actual shooting incident. As a result of these factors, the Crown noted that the case could not be tried by way of the Evidence Amendment Act (which allows trials to proceed on the written statements of absent eyewitnesses), and noted that it therefore had no evidence against the men.

The police believe the two men are members of a gang that has been operating in sections of Portmore. The police’s latest information indicates that Constable Cuff’s murder was possibly linked to an ongoing feud between two violent criminal gangs in Portmore – the Uprising and the Umbrella gangs. It is believed that the men carried out the attack on the constable and his house, thinking he was a rival gang member.

Blair said the threats are reportedly coming from persons in the Naggo Head community, and that the police are not taking them lightly, and that an investigation is underway.

According to Superintendent Watson, “Space has already been identified and it is now left for certain necessities to be done and, as soon as these are achieved, the team will be resident in St James.” He said also that the establishment of this arm of the unit as well as the beefing-up of the divisional command with the additional officers trained in community policing, are among some of the new initiatives to enhance the delivery of service to the St. James community.

In a release to the press yesterday, the police high command outlined the guidelines under which tear gas canisters should be discharged. The release said that only properly trained police personnel should discharge tear gas, and that it should only be done in a last ditch effort to quell disturbances. It states that they should never be used in a confined environment, especially where there is a potential fire hazard.

Ellington has also ordered that the officer commanding a police formation must first analyze the situation to determine the need for using tear gas. He also instructed that all tear-gas canisters and projectiles be brought in to the relevant divisions in the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), and that their dates of manufacture be reviewed. In instances where the date on the devices is illegible or the date of manufacture is prior to 2002, they are to be returned to Headquarters Stores and Armoury for disposal.

Both men will face the Hanover Resident Magistrate’s court today.