Barbados Police Officer shot four times under mysterious circumstances – Island news media silent

Not one word in the Barbados newspapers

According to the talk in Bridgetown, four days ago Constable Jonathan Barrow was shot four times in the legs. He was treated at hospital where doctors recovered at least two bullets from the wounds. Barrow is now resting at home.

Nothing in the news media, but everyone is talking.

First to report the shooting was Sheri Veronica (photo above) of Naked Departure blog who ran the story on July 28th, and followed up with a mention on her Naked Departure Talk Show yesterday.

Officer Barrow was one of the police involved in the infamous Shanique Marie ‘finger rape’ case. His partner at the time, Everton Gittens, is currently in Dodds Prison on murder charges stemming from the shooting of two men attacking Gittens’ alleged lover.

So what’s going on and why isn’t the Barbados news media covering this story?

Magistrate Douglas Frederick too weak, too timid to take on disrespectful police officers.

Accused waiting five and a half years for trial – Barbados Police don’t show for latest court date.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick lets them get away with it again.

Where was Sergeant Catwell?

The charges against the accused are serious. On January 20, 2010, police arrested Michael James Springer for having an illegal gun and ammunition.

Now, five and a half years later, our justice system is just getting to the preliminary hearing but the two main police witnesses didn’t bother to show up for court date known months in advance. One witness, Sergeant Catwell, was on holiday and, according to Station Sergeant Neville Watson, couldn’t be found. The other witness, Sergeant Leslie, was on a training course and so couldn’t attend at court.

Let’s just think about that for a minute, shall we?

Sergeant Catwell knew many months ago that the case was coming to court on July 8, 2015, but he went away on holiday anyway and “efforts to locate him had proven futile.”

Really? On this tiny rock, none of Catwell’s fellow police know where he is? Nobody knows his mobile phone number? Nobody left a message? Nobody knows his email address?

And what training could be so important as to cause a police witness to ignore the court? Sergeant Leslie couldn’t take a morning off his so very important training course to testify?

Obviously the two involved police officers do not respect the courts, the judicial process or their duty to Barbados.

Time for the learned judge to start issuing arrest warrants for police officers who thumb their noses at the court and the law.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick’s statement that it was “unfortunate that Leslie was away on training and was in High Court on the last occasion” is a capitulation to police disrespect of the courts. Magistrate Frederick looks like he is too weak, timid and fearful to uphold the law. Just a few days ago BFP reported in another trial Magistrate Douglas tossed a drug trafficking case when the police witnesses didn’t show up… but Frederick let the police turn their backs on the courts and never held them to account for failing to show.

And he just did it again…

No one-sided justice, attorney tells Magistrate

Terming it “totally ridiculous,” attorney-at-law Vonda Pile asked today that a matter involving her client be dismissed.

Michael James Springer faces charges of having a gun and ammunition on January 20, 2010. The 29-year-old lives at Headley’s Land, Deacons Road, St Michael.

When the preliminary hearing began yesterday, Station Sergeant Neville Watson told the court of the unavailability of the two police witnesses.  

Witness fails to appear in court – accused set free, absent witness faces no penalty…. Welcome to Barbados!

Nothing to do with this case… just an illustration of reality when the police make witnesses’ names known!

Intimidating a witness is standard operating procedure in Barbados.

Five years for a marijuana case to come to trial in Barbados!!!

The Court should have issued a warrant for the arrest of the witness and dug into the “why” behind the witness failing to show. This happens time and time again and undermines everything from the police to the court.

Magistrate Douglas Frederick dismissed a 2010 case in the District ‘A’ Magistrates Court today, after a police witness who was supposed to testify was absent from court.

Hezron Joseph Williams, who was previously charged with possession, trafficking and intent to supply marijuana in October 2010, was therefore free to go.

Williams, 27, resides at Hutson Alley, Reed Street, The City.

When the case came up for hearing in the morning, Station Sergeant Neville Watson said he expected the witness to be at court by midday.

When it was called again in the afternoon and the prosecutor was questioned by the Magistrate, he said he still had not heard from the witness.

Magistrate Frederick determined that “unless he (the witness) has a reasonable excuse or some type of emergency, the case would have to be viewed differently”.

He therefore dismissed the matter.

Disgusting!

Prisoner walks off as court constables gossip and discuss latest romantic conquests

“The decision was handed down, Williams left the dock and sat on the bench. He was not handcuffed. As officers of the court were busy going about their duties, Williams got up without drawing attention to himself and walked out of the court. At first, no one noticed he was missing. A constable subsequently went in search of Williams, but he remains wanted by Police.” Nation News

“A constable who was performing clerical duties in the courtroom apparently saw Williams just as he was about to exit and he quickly followed him. However, since he had several yards on the officer, Williams made good his escape.

It is understood that Williams turned himself in to police today, accompanied by attorney-at-law Romain Marshall.” Barbados Today

by passin thru

You have to love this story, even if like most folks you are not sympathetic to criminals, there’s something about what happened that brings a smile…

Last Thursday Chad Rommell Martin Williams appeared before court charged with obstructing and cursing a police officer.

Charged with cursing a police officer? Sounds like a put-up to me!

He was held without bail, but then the court police officers got to talking about all manner of things, including how they been shagging that sweet little thing in uniform that joined the courts detail a few months ago. That girl can boink… and she don’t care who with! Everybody in court heard it, so it be no secret!

So while the his guards were busy talking about how the girl can do this and do that, Chad made his way to the door and slipped out. The ‘official’ story is that some police officer noticed him on the way out and gave chase, but we understand that is not true. They never noticed he was gone for several minutes because they were talkin’ ’bout that girl. Hey… everybody talkin’ bout that girl.

Chad came to he senses the next day and turned heself in with his lawyer. Lots of new charges but under the circumstances I understand how Chad just couldn’t help heself!

Chad had a good evening, couple a splifs and a boink.

Even the police can understand that.

Elvis Graham shot but okay. Monsta Grill owner targeted in late night attack.

by Passin Thru

Damn.

Monsta Grill owner Elvis Graham was shot multiple times – reports say six times – in the wee hours after Wednesday night’s fete. He’s doing alright but one of the slugs (so says a friend) was too close to the femoral artery so will be removed after some further scans. Maybe another doctor is coming in, who knows? Nobody says anything on this rock.

Elvis Graham – shot six times, but recovering.

Four thugs made the employees lie down on the ground and threatened to kill the women, to make Elvis give up the evening deposit.

But the evening deposit had already left the place, so Elvis gave up everything he had but it wasn’t enough, so they shot he in the legs three times and also in the elbow, side of the chest and face.

Elvis is a good man: kind to employees, respected by customers for being fair, and takes no nonsense from trouble-makers, but kindly and with peace-making style.

The arrest and conviction of these four gang thugs (that is the rumour, they are from the north) should be the first priority of our police.

Surround their homes. Give they one chance to surrender.

And if they come out blasting or don’t come out…

The police should kill they dead. Six shots each.

No trial necessary. You put a pistol in the mouth of a crying pregnant woman lying face down in the dirt… you deserve to die.

Passin thru

New Moke in production – but will higher crime rates and Bajan gangs kill sales of open vehicles?

The Moke is in production again – this time in China – and the new version remains true to the concept launched by Austin way back in 1964. The car was originally a military version of the famous Austin Mini and was loved by tourists all over the world’s tropical zones. This time it will also have electric and auto-transmission versions.

Can the new Moke reclaim its glory days when happy tourists securely roamed Bajan roads in open vehicles with nary a thought of crime or robbery?

Or will the Boscobel Toll Gang and other Bajan criminal gangs kill sales?

Barbados Police to arrange truce between two gangs – giving criminal leaders status, recognition and power.

Our police should be dismantling the gang leadership, not giving them status.

by Passin Thru

I read in the Nation that the police are brokering a meeting between the leaders of two rival gangs, to arrange a ‘truce’.

This is a huge mistake by the Royal Barbados Police Force.

The gangs are fighting over criminal profits and turf, areas of influence and gang status in the community. Any truce would have to involve establishing geographical boundaries for gang activities. After all, it’s a turf fight about criminal profits. What are the police thinking?

Are the police going to broker a deal where gang members stay in one are to work their crimes, and not interfere with the next gang’s turf?

This is a huge mistake that gives status to gang leaders and gangs, and unfortunately shows how impotent the police have become in the face of a crime wave the likes of which this island has never seen before. Guns, Guns Guns and our police strategy is to assist gangs to carve up territories? This is INSANE!

Our police should be causing havoc in the gangs, arresting the leaders and making criminals fear extra police attention that gang membership brings. Our police should be dismantling the gang leadership, not giving them status.

From the Nation…

AFFECTING A TRUCE between the leaders of two gangs is high on the agenda for community policing.

Head of the Chapman Lane and New Orleans Mobile Unit Sergeant Jamal Mohan said the two men are known to have a major influence on the youth of the area. Mohan was speaking earlier today at the launch of the second phase of the Reading and Learning in Harmony programme which is being done in conjunction with the Pan-American International Insurance Corporation. He said the truce would redound to making the community safer. (YB)

Nation: Police want truce between gang leaders

Acting Commissioner of Police confirms Barbados crime up 14% first quarter of 2015

Recipe for Social Disaster

Combine a broken court system with understaffed, under-trained & underfunded police force. Throw in some crook politicians, a general rise in societal violence, and mass unemployment.

Bake for a year in the hot Bajan sun. Top with some drug profits and rum.

It’s a wonder that the Royal Barbados Police Force was able to hold the serious crimes rise to only 14% over 2014.

Lord, we better get some mass job creation ’bout this place and soon.

Nation: Police chief confirms rise in crime against Bajans

The List: major drug dealers in Barbados who work with corrupt police, politicians

Drug dealers, corrupt politicians and bad cops

Who made this list?

Sheri Veronica, that’s who. And she ties it to vote buying in Barbados elections.

That woman has stones.

And she’s pretty too!

Sheri Veronica’s blog: Barbados: Bad cops, Corrupt politicians and drug lords

 

Secret Withdrawal Of Bribery Charges Against Barbados Cop Stinks Of Corruption At The Highest Levels

Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock has been in the news again lately – so we’ve revisited this past story of his corruption and unethical behaviours like using the police to threaten and extort a woman who owed him a private debt – and then withdrawing corruption charges against his same police friend.

Unlike the mainstream Barbados news media, the blogs don’t let unresolved news stories fade away. We’ll keep bringing this back into memory until this place cleans itself up… and until our corrupt DPP resigns.

I love my Barbados – but I hate the corrupt and incestuous cartel that seems to run everything.

Barbados Free Press

Barbados News Media Remains Silent

On September 16, 2008, Barbados Police Sergeant Paul Emmanuel Vaughn (sometimes spelled Paul Vaughan) was charged with corruptly accepting $56,500 in bribes between December 1, 2004 and April 30, 2007 from Evadney Cindy Bushell in return for protecting her from prosecution for selling pirated DVDs.

We said at the time that the Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock would eventually withdraw the criminal charges against his old friend, Sergeant Vaughn, because the two corrupt public employees had previously been involved together in the Ronja Juman scandal. In short, Charles Leacock had Sergeant Vaughn and his goon squad arrest Ronja Juman in the middle of the night and subject the terrified woman to a vaginal search – over back rent she owed Charles Leacock. There was no way the DPP was going to continue the prosecution of a man who was his friend and a co-conspirator…

View original post 380 more words

Report: Seven Barbados police officers arrested in drug racket

Good for the cops for cleaning up their own mess. Will the officers ever come to trial? The record of similar arrests fading into nothing doesn’t make me an optimist…

AS MANY AS SEVEN police officers ranging in rank from special constable to sergeant, were being questioned up to late last night in connection with a suspected illegal drugs racket.

According to sources, the breakthrough started after investigators, acting on a tip-off, discovered a quantity of marijuana in the possession of one of the officers, who was subsequently taken into custody over the weekend.

… see Nation News

Amnesty International says Barbados police torture prisoners

According to Amnesty, on March 17, Mottley and Headley, in the company of their lawyer, presented themselves at the Hastings police station in “good health”, as certified by a doctor.

But hours later, Mottley’s lawyer Brian Clarke reportedly received a call from his client requesting his urgent presence.

“When the lawyer arrived, he saw that Adrian Mottley was in distress, he had a split lip and had vomit on his mouth. Shortly afterwards he fainted and began foaming at the mouth, ” Amnesty claimed in the statement.

It said after receiving medical attention, Mottley later told his lawyer that “police officers had wrapped him in plastic wrap from his feet up to his neck and then [beat] him around the body.”

… from Barbados Today Tortured?

Do Bajans believe that the Royal Barbados Police Force regularly beats prisoners? Do fish swim in the sea?

A few reminders from BFP stories…

March 25, 2013  Was Derek Crawford beaten by police to make him confess to rape?

November 25, 2012 Barbados Police competence, brutality, in spotlight as ‘wrongful’ rape charges explode in worldwide news

December 2, 2011 Death in Police Custody

May 30, 2011  Barbados Bar Association President: Police beat confessions from suspects

Sept 9 2010 Dear Police Commissioner

Gunmen ambush patrolling Barbados police – one officer slightly shot

“One officer slightly shot” sounds a bit strange, but it’s just about what the police and papers are saying happened on Tuesday night. The story only deserves four sentences in the Nation and Barbados Today because that is all the information released by the police.

Think about that folks: Gunmen saw patrolling police officers, then started shooting in an ambush. If that doesn’t sound like Kingston, Jamaica I don’t know what does.

But the police and the news media are playing down the incident, I suppose because the injured officer was only ‘slightly’ shot.

Strange times ’bout this place. Sometimes I swear somebody stole my country and put this new one under my feet. It looks like the same old place, but it isn’t.

A police detective was “slightly injured” when gunmen opened fire on a group of officers last night.

Police public relations officer Inspector David Welch says members of the Criminal Investigations Department were on patrol in Chapman Lane, the City around 11 pm when unknown assailants shot at them several times before running away.

He said police returned fire.

The incident is being investigated.

… from Barbados Today Men Shoot at Police

What happened to corruption charges against Barbados police inspector Martin Jones?

“It will be interesting to follow the Martin Jones case through court as I can’t recall ever seeing a Barbados Police Officer convicted of corruption offenses.

They always seem to walk off free.”

Barbados Free Press article March 22, 2012: Barbados Police Inspector charged in court caper

Retired RBPF Inspector Martin Jones

Almost two years ago a recently retired Royal Barbados Police Force Inspector, Martin Jones, was charged with perverting the course of justice in a big drug case. What happened since then? Was he convicted? Were the charges dropped?

Your guess is as good as ours because no one ever saw another reference to Inspector Martin Jones again.

Could it be that Inspector Jones is a SPECIAL FRIEND of Director of Public Prosecutions Charles Leacock? You know, just like that corrupt cop Sergeant Paul Vaughan (sometimes called Paul Vaughn) was a friend of the DPP? It’s not like it hasn’t happened before ’bout this rock…

“Well surprise, surprise! The Director of Public Prosecutions recently ordered the withdrawal of the bribery and perverting the course of justice charges against his friend, Sergeant Vaughn.

No public explanation was given – and the cowardly lapdogs in the Barbados news media never asked a single question even though the whole thing stinks to high heaven.”

… from the BFP article Secret withdrawal of Bribery Charges against Barbados cop stinks of corruption at the highest levels.

So let’s see if any BFP readers know what happened to the corruption charges against Barbados police inspector Martin Jones.

Ex-cop on bail (read the story at The Nation here)

BY HEATHER-LYNN EVANSON | THU, MARCH 22, 2012 – 12:11 AM

A retired police inspector accused of perverting the course of justice in a drug trafficking case was released on bail yesterday.

How much crime until it is called “Civil Unrest” ???

U.S. Marine trains Barbados Defence Force personnel in tactics, clubs and shields for crowd control, June 2012.

Upsurge in crime and drugs feared – due to increased unemployment

Step #1: Government makes 3,000 workers redundant.

Step #2: Increased recruitment efforts for Barbados Defence Force.

Step #3: Politicians and police meet “to deal with any problems that may creep up… with unemployment due to increase as a result of public sector retrenchment.”

“We have to find ways to reach across the political divide,” the attorney general said.

… from the Barbados Today article Attorney general to meet with police top brass

Wuhloss! It sure sounds like somebody is getting a little nervous.

Murder of former Barbados Immigration Chief Kenrick Hutson now six years cold

Six years ago on December 28, 2007, retired Chief Immigration Officer Kenrick Hutson, aged 74, was murdered at the front of his home on a Friday evening as his wife and daughter were inside.

The killer’s trail has long grown cold and the police question how a man who retired 14 years previously could have been an assassin’s target over something that happened while he was either on the police force or head of Immigration.

It doesn’t seem square though – a 74 year old long retired man doesn’t get shot down as he reads the newspaper on the verandah with family and neighbours right there.

The murder of a former Chief Immigration Officer raises all kinds of concerns and questions. Obviously a man of Hutson’s experience and service would have made some enemies in a post where he was in charge of Immigration processing, investigations, charges and deportations. But Hutson was retired, and presumably would have little input or influence into current immigration matters.

IF his murder is associated with his service as Chief Immigration Officer, it would seem that it was either revenge for some past action – or to prevent Hutson from testifying or revealing information about something he knew.

Somebody knows something. There was a reason for this murder.

After two years of intense investigation, the murder of retired Chief Immigration Officer Kenrick Hutson, still remains a mystery to Police Investigators. Kenrick Hutson was a family man, a father of three children and husband of Coreen for over 44 years. He had a reputation of being a true gentleman among his peers and was well liked in his community and club circles.

Friends and relatives can think of no incident during his tenure as a Police Officer and Chief Immigration Officer that can be attributed as being a motive for his murder, 14 years into his retirement. However, on Friday December 28th 2007, at 6.50 pm Kenrick Hutson was murdered at his home located on Butlers Avenue, Spooners Hill, St. Michael.

Investigations indicate that the assailant walked from the direction of Codrington Hill, turned left into Butlers Avenue and proceeded to the Hutson residence. At the time of the incident, Mr. Hutson aged 74 was sitting on his verandah reading the daily newspapers, when the assailant entered the yard through the open front gate, climbed the steps leading to the verandah and shot Mr. Hutson several times about the body. The assailant then existed through the front gate and was seen running along Butlers Avenue towards Codrington Hill.

The assailant was identified as having a slim build, and dark complexion. He was wearing a whitish shirt, dark coloured pants and a cap with the peak facing front.

Crime Stoppers: March 17, 2010

Crimes against tourists “Economic terrorism” but Barbados Bar Association says that’s not as important as everyone being shot in an equal manner

“The road is closed. I need ten dollars.”

Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association wants special courts for tourist crimes – Lawyers say no way

by passin thru

We have a problem on this island right now – crimes against locals and tourists alike have skyrocketed, including street robberies where people are injured. Old folks pushed down for their bags or slammed in the face as the evil creatures grab their chains or tear off their rings. I heard one story a few weeks ago where the robber carried a small dishsoap bottle and shoved the old lady down breaking her glasses then out with the soap and rip off those rings. That’s getting vicious even for some of the badd boys on the block.

A single crime against one tourist is economic terrorism.

The badd boys on the block have to know that if they touch a tourist, the police are going to hunt them down and the court is going to give them double.

Lately two British tourists off a cruise ship got shot on a Sunday afternoon walking in the daylight. Word of that spread and the rest of the tourists headed back to the boat lickity split. Just like what happens when you drop an elevator full of people in New York City – businesses leave that office building, and they don’t renew their leases no matter how much you lower the rent. You can tell ’em all the time that the elevators are fixed, inspected, repaired, replaced, brand new… tell ’em what you want but once you drop an elevator full of people in New York City it’s all over for five years because so many other buildings rent office space and they haven’t dropped any elevators lately.

Barbados has dropped a whole lot of elevators lately when it comes to crimes against tourists. What you what? We got it! Unsolved rapes with the wrong man in jail for two years? Check. Tourists shot off the cruise boats or walking near their hotel? Check. Tourists beaten on the beach trying to stop a purse grab? How many you want? Boscobel Toll Gang? Still in business as strong as ever. Long Beach rapes for two years and police did nothing until some poor tourist died? We had that too and the police never did find who was torturing all those dogs and hanging them in the bushy ridge. A person who would do that to a dog is a big danger to everyone, but the police say “It’s only a dog”.

Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association (BHTA), president Patricia Affonso-Dass says that a special court should be established for dealing with crimes against tourists. The Bar Association says that is unfair because it means that a crime against a citizen is then viewed as less serious.

Wide-eyed tourists are like little children and deserve more protection

I agree with the BHTA. Some crimes against certain victims are more serious. Crimes against children are always viewed more seriously because we know that the children can’t protect themselves as well as adults can.

It’s the same thing with tourists. They are like little children when they walk these fields and hills and streets and beaches and it is up to Barbados to protect them and look after them more than we normally do with adults.

And if we don’t look after the tourists specially, you know that St. Lucia or Cuba would be happy to take special care of them.

Winston Churchill once said “The inherent virtue of socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.”

I’ll change that and say that “The inherent virtue of equal status for all victims is the equal sharing of no tourist revenues.”

It’s the best I can do on a Thursday morning before work.

passin thru

A reasoned view of the Royal Barbados Police Force

If the current staff could be like the police officers I once knew

by Mark Fenty

We obviously cannot invalidate the important job the Royal Barbados Police Force is doing in Barbados, but we are certainly troubled by the many instances of misconduct surrounding this institution. Some people fail to realize that the Royal Barbados Police Force is much like any other organization in Barbados, and is therefore subject to some of the same faults and failings as all. And like any other organization there are good and bad apples within.

So with this thought in mind, we therefore cannot unilaterally or arbitrarily besmear the efforts of the majority for the wrong doings of a few bad apples in the Force. It is important however that we are impartial in our judgment of the Royal Barbados Police Force, and assign blame where it is needed. I think we all can agree that the job of a peace officer is quite difficult at times.

And to be quite frank, there are often calls for some officers to do things that aren’t conductive to proper policing. Nevertheless, too often some of us take for granted the effort it take on the part of these peace officers to maintain the public peace.

In any event, some of these peace officers are men of integrity whose objective it is to ensure the public order. Others are rotten apples who see an opportunity to use their position of power to take advantage of the marginalized elements in our society. I knew both elements quite well, because I was born and bred just behind a major police station in Barbados. I saw both sides of the coin but for the most part, most of the men and women I once knew were good nature people who would go out of their way to give you their shirt of their back. That’s the kind of men and women I once knew, and that’s the kind of men and women who once constituted the Royal Barbados Police Force in my day. I would like to give a shout out to Commission Alvin Griffith if he is still living, a man of honest purpose and simple integrity, cloth with the rare qualities of dignity, decency and decorum.