Suspected goat thieves captured
MAY PEN, Clarendon — Three men were yesterday morning arrested in Clarendon when a police patrol intercepted a vehicle carrying what is believed to be a stolen goat and other “implements used to possibly break into buildings”.
Clarendon police chief Senior Superintendent Michael Bailey said the car, which was travelling from the direction of Mandeville, was intercepted on Jackson Street — near Glenmuir Road — just as it exited Bustamante Highway.
“This morning, between five and six, a police patrol tried to stop a motor vehicle [which failed to stop]. But as a result of the network of patrol that we have in the parish, the vehicle was subsequently intercepted,” Bailey said.
“The vehicle had three persons and also a stolen goat,” he added. “We also found implements used to cut wires and possibly break into buildings. We saw a container with a powdery substance, which we are going to have checked at the lab.”
The powdery substance is said to be “white and has a very strong odour”.
“Investigation,” the police said, “has so far revealed that two of the men are from Clarendon, while the other is from a Manchester address, so we know that there is a link between thieves from (both parishes). We also believe that this particular stolen goat is from Manchester.”
The owner of the animal, however, is yet to be identified.
“We are seeking information from the public as to who the owner of the goat might be,” Bailey noted. “We also want persons who would have suffered loss from praedial larceny, robberies and break-ins to come forward and partake in an identification parade to see if these persons would have been suspects.
He said the men will be charged whether or not the goat is claimed.
“As long as a farmer from that area (Manchester) can identify the animal, we will charge the suspects that we have in custody,” he said. “They will be charged with other offences under the road code act and if we don’t find any complainant for the goat, they will be charged will unlawful possession of property.”
Meanwhile, SSP Bailey said a fourth man is also in custody, while another is under police guard, resulting from another motor vehicle interception, in Osborne Store last night. Both men were reportedly involved in a stabbing in Lionel Town, an incident which police say stemmed from a drug deal gone bad.
“We have a problem in the parish where persons mix flour with cocaine and try to pass it off as (pure) cocaine. There was a robbery during one of those transactions last year and the victim came back last night and attacked the person who would have sold him flour for cocaine,” he explained.
“He tried to escape in a motor vehicle, but he could not elude the network of patrol that we have in the parish, so we have that person in custody. The victim is currently under police guard and will be slapped with charges,” the officer said.
Bailey said while these two latest operations may not be classified as major busts, they “send a message to the criminals that Clarendon is not a place where they can come, commit crime and get away with it because the police are maintaining a strong presence”.