$10-m fire in Spanish Town

Fire yesterday destroyed a building housing a haberdashery and hardware store at French Street, Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) reported that at about 1:30 am, fire was seen coming from a section of the building. The fire brigade was summoned and eight fire units from the Corporate Area and St Catherine extinguished the blaze. No one was injured and the police said the cause of the fire was not ascertained.

Loss is estimated at $10M. The building was not insured.

Man shot dead on South Camp Road

Nicholas Campbell, 24, of Fleet Street in Kingston was shot and killed by gunmen on South Camp Road in Kingston Saturday.

The CCN said that at about 1:20 pm, residents reportedly heard explosions in the area. On investigation Campbell was seen lying on the road with multiple gunshot wounds to the head and chest. He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Eleven 9mm spent shells were taken from the scene.

No motive for the killing has yet been ascertained by the Gold Street Police who are investigating.

Vendor on cocaine charge

Beverly Cummings, a 45 year-old vendor of Sutton Street, Kingston was arrested for breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act in New Kingston Saturday night.

The police said that at about 8:45 pm, members of the Crime Management Unit carried out an operation in the New Kingston area during which a stall operated by Cummings at the intersection of Knutsford Boulevard and Trafalgar Road was searched. Eighty-four pieces of crack-cocaine and $2,820 were seized, the police said. Cummings was consequently arrested and charged and is scheduled to appear in the Corporate Area Criminal Court on Friday.

Man’s body found in Gravel District

The Milk River Police have commenced investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of an elderly man whose body was found on a farm in Gravel District, Clarendon yesterday morning.

He has been identified as 70 year-old Donald Monroe of Gravel District.

The CCN’s Clarendon liaison officer reported that at about 9:30 am Saturday, Monroe left home for his farm. When he did not return within a reasonable time, relatives went out in search of him. About 3:00 yesterday morning, his body, which had a wound to the neck, was found lying on the farm road. The police were summoned and the body removed to the morgue for post-mortem examination.

Man fatally shot by cops; firearm seized

A man who allegedly pointed a gun at a member of a police party was fatally shot and a firearm seized at Comfort Valley District, Richmond, St Mary yesterday morning.

He has been identified as Vincent Errol Maragh, 41, otherwise called “Monkey” of Comfort Valley.

The CCN reported that at about 5:30 am, a team of policemen from the Area Two Flying Squad, Narcotics and the St Mary Division carried out an operation in Comfort Valley. On the approach of the police to a house occupied by Maragh, he reportedly pointed a firearm at members of the police party and was shot.

A Mack 90 Sporter Rifle, serial #405617, 59 rounds of assorted ammunition, three sticks of dynamite, and chillum pipe and a quantity of ganja were seized.

Painter arrested on gun charge

Danny Pryce, a 44 year-old painter of Waltham Park Road, Kingston 13, was arrested for breaches of the Firearms Act after he was held with an illegal weapon at Market Street, Ocho Rios, St Ann yesterday morning.

The CCN said that at about 9:30 am, an operation was carried out in the Ocho Rios area when Pryce was allegedly seen at the Farmers Market. His actions, the police said, aroused the suspicion of the police and he was searched. A Bersa .380 semi-automatic pistol, serial # 120251 with five rounds of ammunition was allegedly taken from him.

He was subsequently arrested and charged by the Ocho Rios police.