Cops find ammo during ‘intelligence’ led raid

| 13/10/2011

CNS): Police discovered two types of small arms ammunition on Tuesday following what an RCIPS spokesperson described as an “intelligence led operation” in the district of West Bay aimed at reducing gun crime. The search, which reportedly lasted several hours in the Birch Tree Hill area, covered a number of houses and open land and resulted in the discovery of what the police described as a small quantity of ganja as well as the abandoned ammunition. Police also stated that an arrest was made during the operation but confirmed it was not in connection with the recent spate of murders in the district, but for drugs. CNS has asked the RCIPS a number of questions regarding various reports of complaints in relation to the raid. (Photo Dennie Warren Jr)

The police stated that if anyone believed they had grounds for complaint in respect of the actions of the RCIPS they should contact the Professional Standards Unit and the matter would be fully investigated.

Police are currently prioritising the murder investigations and it is understood that the twenty UK officers who have been shipped from the north of England to help what the British press have dubbed Cayman’s “desperate detectives” have now all arrived on island. According to Jon Murphy, the UK chief constable and ACPO representative that has supervised the secondment of the officers, they will not be telling local cops how to do their jobs but partnering with local officers in an effort to bring the shooters in the most recent spate of murders to justice.

Police charged 18-year-old Chakame Jamelle Scott with the murder of Asher McGaw on Tuesday and he has been remanded in custody and is dues to appear in Grand Court on Friday. McGaw was the fifth victim of a series of fatal gang shootings which took place over an eight day period in September. Police are still looking for the killers of Robert Bush, Andrew Baptist, Preston Rivers and Jason Christian.

Senior officer have not yet stated if they believe any of the victims of the shootings may also have been perpetrators.

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  1. Anonymous says:

    What about metal detectors?  Could probably find something with those.

  2. Anonymous says:

    Isn't this what the public has been asking for all along is for the RCIPS to " do something" about this crime!  We(the public) complained that they were not doing theirjobs when we didn't see them doing random searches of these "known" gang hang outs and now that they are we (the "citizens") want to complain!?!  Come on people what exactly is it that you want to see happen make up your minds! I for one am happy to hear that they are out there doing something and I pray for those that are being disrupted in the process but if you know that these young men who are hanging around your yards are in fact a gang and are involved in illegal and gang activity then you should have been the first to call the police a long time ago and not complain now that the country has been "shaken " by thier horrific crimes. 

  3. Anonymous says:

    Complaints? Nothing new. Baines is barely running a real crime prevention and detection service – with having nothing a close first place. But it is a known fact that there is a large percentage of the community and not just gang members that do not like the idea of Police let alone the Police themselves and will abstruct the Police from executing the lawful duties that they are charged with, so when the police use some force noses will get out of joint.

  4. Anonymous says:

    Come to my house any day, I have nothing to hide. Only those that do will complain. Tackiling this gang problem is the most important step in Cayman's future otherwise we will take the long and steep slide Bermuda has. Got stopped in a road block last night and wanted to get out of my car shake the hands of every single one of the officers. One question? What took so long to take this simple step.

     

    • Anonymous says:

      The average person in the US breaks the law three times a day

    • Anonymous says:

      Isn't this what the public has been asking for all along for the RCIPS to " get serious " about this crime and start to "do something " about it, and now that they are "Doing something" they want to file complaints!!  If you have these young men hanging in your yards, you must know that there is illegal activity taking place and you are allowing it to happen because you are not calling the Police so when they come to "dig up your yard " looking for whatever why complain be thankful that you are not being held responsible for it being it is your yard  and not theirs. Stop "cloaking" these criminals!!! 

  5. Chris says:

    Great work to whoever offered up the tip and to the RCIP.

    When dealing with the general public having an RCIPS is fine.

    When dealing with gun crime i say remove the S and replace it with an F for Force!

    Keep up the great work.

  6. Anonymous says:

    thank you for this story CNS

  7. SMB says:

    I am sure there are some complaints about the raid; there is bound to be. It is a fact that upstanding Caymanian citizens and respected elderly persons are often family members to gang members and perhaps even have ownership of the land that is a known hangout for gang members.

    I think we need to give the RCIPS a break. Let them try to get a grip on gun crime. Let them go ahead and forcefully raid these previously untouchable places. It has unfortunately reached a point where we now have to decide if we are going to compromise a little bit on our civil rights and freedoms (police searches etc) or live in a dangerous, crime ridden country, with regular killings and no tourism product.

    There are complaints that the RCIPS is not doing enough and when they swing into action there will be complaints that they are being too heavy handed and disrespectful etc. I am all for the heavy handed complaints for a while. We have to get the crime under control otherwise this Island is going down and it will not be a good place to live or raise a family.

    So good law abiding citizens – support the RCIPS if you hear a few complaints overthe coming weeks. It probably means they are actually doing their job and they have begun applying some pressure. It is way past due.

     

  8. Anonymous says:

    Putting the "S" back in the RCIPS; thanks!