Commissioner of Police Dr. Kevin Blake has confirmed the removal of a police officer from duty at a St. Catherine station amidst rumors of a romantic involvement with murder accused Leoda Bradshaw.
Bradshaw is currently facing charges related to the murder of Sarayah Paulwell, the infant daughter of Member of Parliament Phillip Paulwell, and her mother, 27-year-old Toshyna Patterson. Speculations regarding Miss Bradshaw’s pregnancy have been circulating on social media, although Dr. Blake has stated that the allegation seems to be false.
“We heard the allegation and immediately commissioned an investigation. We also removed the officer who was accused from the station, but our investigation to this point has not shown that there is any truth to the allegation,” said the commissioner.
Minibus, car crash along Passagefort Drive in Portmore, several injured.
Traffic along the heavily used Passagefort Drive in Portmore, St Catherine, came to a screeching halt yesterday, April 9, 2024, following a two-vehicle crash involving a public passenger minibus and a motor car.
The driver of the car was seriously injured and was rushed to hospital by an ambulance.
Other persons were also injured and were taken for medical attention.
Police and emergency crews responded swiftly.
Two Men from St. James Charged Following Gun Seizure During Traffic Stop.
Granville police charged two men after confiscating a firearm during a traffic stop along Chambers Drive in Granville, St James, on Monday, April 8, 2024.
22-year-old laborer Linval Watson, also known as ‘Bryan,’ of King district in Anchovy, and 20-year-old entrepreneur Joshua Bell of Pasture Drive, Portobello, both in the parish, have been charged with possession of prohibited weapons.
According to reports, around 1 p.m., a team of law enforcement officers instructed the driver of a Nissan Sylphy motor car to halt during an operation.
Although the driver complied, the officers observed suspicious behavior from both the driver and the sole passenger.
The vehicle and its occupants were thoroughly searched, and during this process, a firearm was reportedly discovered beneath the front passenger seat.
Subsequently, the police detained both suspects, ultimately charging them with violations of the Firearms Act.
The court appearance date for the suspects is pending.
Police Launch Investigation into Murder of Businesswoman in Spanish Town.
The St Catherine police have initiated an inquiry into the homicide of a businesswoman in Spanish Town on Tuesday, April 9, 2024.
Opal Bennett, a 40-year-old bar operator from Corletts Road in Spanish Town, St Catherine, was found along March Pen Road at approximately 1:20 a.m. with apparent gunshot wounds to the upper body. Despite being transported to the Spanish Town Hospital, she tragically succumbed to her injuries.
As of now, no motive has been determined in this case.
New KSAMC Leadership Calls for Audit of Alleged $88M Overspend on Salaries.
The new chairman of the Finance Committee of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC) claims that the former administration spent over $80 million more than the approved budget for salaries.
Dennis Gordon, the People’s National Party councilor for the Maxfield Park division and current head of the KSAMC’s Finance Committee, stated that he plans to ask the Auditor General’s Department to review the operations of the previous Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) administration.
Gordon said, “At our first meeting, we requested a thorough review of the staff numbers and processes. Many rules were broken. I can tell you right away: $88 million was added to the payroll without permission,” during a press conference after today’s KSAMC council meeting.
He also accused the Delroy Williams-led administration of causing chaos in the city inspector’s office but did not elaborate on the issues.
Gordon, with the approval of Mayor Andrew Swaby, mentioned that a letter requesting the review will be sent to the auditor general after the next Finance Committee meeting on April 25, 2024.
“We’re not on a witch hunt; we’re here to clarify what his worship (Mayor Swaby) will oversee,” he explained.
“We must take certain actions, as promised, because, as we have said, it is the public’s business, and we are going to manage the matters with openness, trustworthiness, and answerability,” he added.
PNP President Mark Golding had previously expressed his support for reviewing the activities of the municipalities led by JLP mayors.
“It is important for the new incoming councilors to assess what they have inherited and what has or has not been done in those councils under the previous administration’s leadership.
So I anticipate that all of our councils where there has been a change will carefully examine, maybe even audit, what has been happening before,” Golding told reporters during the inauguration of Mayor of Portmore Leon Thomas.