Hit-and-Run driver charged for St. James police death
Homicide Charges: Police Indicted Three In Separate Cases. Police in St. James charged the suspect implicated in the October 2024 hit-and-run death of Constable Linroy Codner.
Investigators identified the accused as Dillon Reid, o/c ‘CJ’ and ‘Bulby,’ from the Blackshop district in St James.
Homicide charges. On Friday, February 28, 2025, the police charged Reid with causing death by dangerous driving. This indictment followed a ruling from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) on February 21.
Investigators said Reid is already before the court on other charges related to the hit-and-run.
The additional charges are not having insurance coverage, driving dangerously, and having no driver’s license. Reid also faced charges of failing to stop at the request of a Constable and not stopping after an accident.
During Reid’s court appearance in January, the investigating officer informed the court that authorities were awaiting a ruling from the DPP on the charge of death by dangerous driving.
Homicide charges. Reid’s next court appearance is on March 12, 2025. The charge of causing death by dangerous driving charge will be added to the docket.
Reid surrendered to the police on October 5, 2024. This was one day after the white Toyota Probox he was driving struck Constable Codner. The impact sent him tumbling over a precipice. Following the accident, Reid fled the scene.
Constable Codner was on duty in Granville, St. James, at the time of the incident. He sustained multiple brain injuries and, unfortunately, died from those injuries on October 20, 2024.
Breakthrough in 7-Year Homicide Case: Suspect Arrested
The Kingston Western police have arrested a suspect. They charged the suspect with the 2018 murder of an assistant coach in Arnett Gardens. The breakthrough came after seven years.
Investigators identified the suspect as Shevaughn Alexander Carnegie, o/c ‘Demon’ and ‘Negie’ 29, from Drecketts Place in Tivoli Gardens.
Homicide charges. Detectives charged Carnegie with murder, possession of a prohibited weapon, and unauthorized possession of ammunition.
The charges are related to the murder of Oral ‘Ruff’ Francis, a resident of Arnett Gardens, on Friday, May 18, 2018. Carnegie allegedly shot Francis while he was standing at his gate in the community.
According to a police report, at around 8:00 a.m. on May 18, 2018, Francis was standing at the gate. Carnegie suddenly appeared and opened fire. He hit Francis in the upper body.
Then, Carnegie made his escape on foot in the area.
The police responded and transported Francis to the Kingston Public Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.
After thorough investigations, the police apprehended Carnegie during an operation.
On Thursday, February 27, 2025, Investigators placed him in an identification parade. A witness positively identified Carnegie.
Later, the police formally charged him after a question-and-answer session in the presence of an attorney.
Carnegie’s court appearance date is pending.
Taxi Operator Charged with Homicide Following Dispute Over Fare
Detectives in Westmoreland charged a taxi operator. The taxi operator allegedly fatally chopped a jerk vendor. This occurred during a dispute over fare at the Negril Bus Park.
The authorities identified the suspect as Shadwayne Ellis, 36, a taxi driver from Geneva district, Grange Hill, Westmoreland.
Homicide charges. Investigators charged Ellis with the murder of Rodway Powell, o/c ‘Jerky,’ on Saturday, March 1, 2025.
The authorities reported that Ellis and Powell engaged in a dispute over fare at around 3 p.m. on February 26.
During the dispute, Powell reportedly held on to the keys to Ellis’s taxi.
Ellis took a machete from the back of his vehicle to retrieve his keys. He then reportedly used it to inflict multiple chop wounds on Mr. Powell’s upper body. After the incident, Ellis fled the scene on foot, leaving his car behind.
Mr. Powell died in the hospital while receiving treatment.
The police detained Ellis and charged him after a question-and-answer session in the presence of his attorney.
His court date is pending.