WESTERN BUREAU – A 14 year-old female student was among four persons arrested and charged for breaches of the Firearms Act in connection with the seizure of five guns in St James in two separate incidents since the new year began.

The teenager has been charged jointly with:

* Wayne Morris, a 31 year-old mason of Haughton Grove;

* Donnett Grant, a 30 year-old higgler of Rose Heights; and

* Owen “Skully” McFarlene, a 34 year-old construction worker who is also of Rose Heights.

The four were charged after the Mount Salem police, armed with a warrant, went to the house they occupied in Rose Heights at about 8:30 am on Wednesday.

A search of the premises turned up three guns, including:

* a .457 magnum;

* a Heckler and Kotch 9mm pistol with the serial number 27027434 and a magazine with four live 9mm cartridges;

* a Taurus 9mm pistol with the serial numbers erased and three live rounds.

Four pounds of ganja was also found in the house, which is owned by McFarlene and all four people were subsequently charged with not only breaches of the Firearms Act but also with breaches of the Dangerous Drugs Act.

Later that day, at about 11:30 am, a group of policemen on patrol in Cambridge said they found Cleveland Thompson, a resident of Retrieve with a Halwan 9mm pistol. The firearm bore the serial number 103-807 and the magazine contained eight 9mm cartridges.

According to the police, they opted to search Thompson because he acted “suspiciously” when he saw them approaching. The firearm was reportedly found in his pants waist.

The police arrested the 49 year-old man who was subsequently charged for breaches of the Firearms Act.

On New Year’s Day, the police also found a home made shotgun inside an abandoned house in the rural community of Vaughnsfield. No one was arrested in connection with that 10:00 am find.

Incidentally, the New Year’s Day find followed closely on the heels of the Barrett Town robbery attempt which left one intruder dead and saw the recovery of another illegal firearm.

On New Year’s Eve, the Barrett Town police seized a .380 semi-automatic pistol bearing serial number 114388, with a magazine containing six live rounds.

The gun was taken from the body of an alleged thief who had ironically met his demise from his own pistol.

It was alleged that at 9:30 pm Tuesday, the unidentified man and two of his cronies went to a shop in Lilliput where they brandished handguns and demanded money from the proprietor. The unidentified man then reportedly entered the shop through a serving window.

But when the armed robber climbed over the counter, a struggle developed between him and the proprietor. The police said the gun went off, injuring the intruder who later died at the Cornwall Regional Hospital.

The Barrett Town police, who were called to the scene, seized the gun.