The police high command yesterday said it has arrested Rose Town area leader Uriel Humphrey James in a Major Organised Crime and Anti-Corruption task force (MOCA) operation that yielded damaging evidence at his home.

At the same time, Police Commissioner Owen Ellington said he has ordered the Anti-Corruption Branch (ACB) to investigate the possible involvement of cops with James, also known as ‘Rooksie’, who is facing murder, shooting with intent, and illegal firearm possession charges.

“There is some cause for concern regarding the involvement of police personnel working in collusion with Rooksie. As such, I have given the directive for a thorough and quick probe to be done by the ACB. That process is going ahead full speed and I await the results,” Ellington said.

“We will leave no stone unturned to deal with members of the constabulary who are proven to have an alliance with this individual,” the commissioner added.

In its statement yesterday, the police high command said a day after James was arrested on March 11, extensive searches of his Kingston 8 house and that of his mother in Rose Town resulted in “several items of evidence” being seized.

“The operation was conducted following high level meetings with the commissioner and members of the high command in a strong move to counter the upsurge of violence and general criminal behaviour in the Rose Town community since late 2012,” the police high command said.

According to the police, copies of two witness statements which implicated James in a number of crimes were found at his house.

The police also raised concern that James was granted bail, after many previous applications were turned down by the court.

On Sunday, James’ attorney, Tom Tavares-Finson, said that the police have, in the past, intimated their interest in his client’s financial dealing, “but at no time had any evidence been brought to substantiate their claim”.