A male resident of New Village, Castries was robbed of one gold chain and cash totaling over $400 at around 11:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 1.
Reports are that the unidentified man was about to park his vehicle at his home, when he was held up by two masked gunmen.
The man did not put up any resistance, but allowed the bandits to take his belongings and escape freely.
There have been several reports of gunshots being fired in the area, and most recently a house was burglarized in the community.
* Not actual plant.
The Richfond Police Station conducted a drug eradication exercise at La Caye this morning and discovered 60 fully grown marijuana plants in someone’s backyard.
A male identified as Coran Joseph, 38, of La Caye was arrested and subsequently charged with: cultivation of controlled drugs, and possession with intent to supply drugs.
Investigations into this matter are ongoing.
The United States State Department annual human rights report has said that the most serious human rights problem in Saint Lucia include long delays in investigating reports of unlawful police killings.
The report pointed specifically to the 2010-2011 alleged police killings, stating that there was limited progress in the inquests and other investigations into the 12 deaths that occurred during that period.
It stated that the abuse of suspects and prisoners by the police, and continued postponements of trials and sentencing are also some serious human rights issues facing the island.
The report did not fail to mention other human rights facing the Eastern Caribbean island which includes: violence against women, child abuse, and discrimination against persons based on their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Pointing to the alleged unlawful police killings, the report said that despite an investigation was conducted by CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) which concluded in May, no report from the investigation was released.
Meanwhile, it said although the government took some steps to prosecute officials and employees who committed abuses, the procedure for investigating police officers was lengthy, cumbersome, and often inconclusive.
The report also pointed to the delays in the judicial system, and the reluctance of witnesses to testify, and strong public and political support for the police as contributing to the overall inability of the government to address allegations in a timely manner.
Police are investigating a fatal shooting in Castries city Saturday morning.
Reports are that a man, identified as 27-year-old Victor Wilson, who lived at Bocage, Castries, was found suffering from gunshot wounds on Chisel Street between Saturday morning.
Police have confirmed that Wilson was shot in Wilton’s Yard (also known as The Graveyard) at about 5:20 a.m. and he ran and collapsed on Chisel Street in front the Hair Factory store.
He was pronounced dead at 6:10 a.m. at Victoria Hospital, a senior police official confirmed.
The motive for the shooting is not clear and no one has been arrested.
Close friends and relatives of the island’s latest homicide victim, Victor Wilson, said the deceased was never involved in any problems.
Wilson, 27, of Bocage, Castries succumbed to gunshot wounds at Victoria Hospital at about 6:10 Saturday morning.
Police said Wilson, a past student of Sir Ira Simmonds Secondary School, was shot in Wilton’s Yard (also known as The Graveyard) at about 5:20 a.m. and he ran and collapsed on Chisel Street, in front of The Hair Factory hair and beauty supply store.
He was taken to hospital where he died.
“This was a guy who was never in trouble and one of the calmest nicest person you’d meet and this hits close to home for me,” a close friend wrote on Facebook.
Close relative and friends have denied that Wilson was involved in gang activity.
“He was a great kid, friendly and very helpful,” one of his friends said.
Wilson’s death was the 11th recorded homicide for 2015.
Just over ago (June 26), 51-year-old Cheryl Clarke of Bexon, Castries, who lived in Wilton’s Yard, was gunned down at the intersection of Broglie and Brazil Street, Castries.
Clarke died several hours later at Victoria Hospital from multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
No one has been arrested for her killing.
Victor Wilson.
PRESS RELEASE - The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of 26 year old, Victor Chard Wilson of Bocage, Castries.
On Saturday, July 4, 2015, about 5:20 a.m. officers received a report of a shooting incident in Wilton’s Yard, Castries.
Investigations led police to the junction of St. Louis and Chisel Street where they discovered the body of Wilson.
Wilson sustained what appeared to be gunshot wounds to the neck. He was transported to the Victoria Hospital and pronounced dead by a medical doctor.
Investigations are continuing into this matter. This is the eleventh homicide for the year 2015.
A man from La Caye, Dennery was given a year to pay $18,000 or face jail time, in connection with a drug bust at his home last week.
Coran Joseph, 38, was slapped with the charges of cultivation of a controlled drugs and possession with intent to supply drugs after officers from the Richfond Police Station discovered 60 fully grown marijuana plants in his back yard on the morning of Thursday, July 2, 2015.
Joseph pleaded guilty to both charges when he appeared in the Dennery Magistrate’s Court last Friday.
He was fined $18,000 to be paid in a year or spend six months in jail for the cultivation charge, and was warned for the possession with intent to supply to another charge.
A young man from Sarrot was rushed to hospital this afternoon around 3:30 p.m. after being suspected of drinking a poisonous substance.
The man, believed to be in his 20′s, was picked up at the “Chopin road near the old WASCO plant”, a resident of the community told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).
It is alleged that the young man, who is of unsound mind, informed family members that he drank the substance. It is further alleged that ambulance personnel left with the bottle which contained the suspected poisonous substance.
“He was spitting up phlegm,” the resident told SNO.
His condition is unknown at this time.
Officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Castries Central are fed up with poor working conditions.
An infestation of bed bugs, dilapidated office furnishings and malfunctioning computers are some of the issues interfering with the work flow of the officers.
The majority of the department’s computers were damaged during an island-wide power outage in May this year. At present, only two computers in the front of the office are operational.
Sources say about seven officers work per shift. This means that only two computers are available for seven officers on each shift, which puts a strain on recording information and investigations.
“Also there has been an issue with chairs or persons in need of assistance/making reports,” a source said.
Sources told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the poor working conditions have been communicated to the management over a period of time but nothing significant has been done.
“These men (senior officers) not feeling it so they can say what they want. Constables are the ones being squeezed,” one of the sources told SNO.
When contacted for a comment, Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police for Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, said he is aware of the issues and they are being addressed.
Desir said he had requested and received a list of the furnishings needed in the department. He said this list was submitted to the persons/s responsible for procuring the items and he was told that they’re out of stock and the items must be ordered.
Desir said he hopes the items – virtually all the furnishings in the CID office – will arrive soon to ease the burden of the officers.
The acting ACP also confirmed that he held a meeting with the officers of the department and gave them an update on what management is doing to solve the problems.
But SNO sources said some of the officers have been fearful of speaking out.
“The thing is it affects us all and no one seems to be saying anything about it. They just complain to each other,” one of the sources added.
A Sarrot man died at the hospital yesterday afternoon, after he reportedly drank poison.
Minel Smith, 25, passed away at around 4:17 p.m., Monday, July 6, police officials confirmed.
Smith was rushed to hospital at around 3:30 p.m. after being suspected of drinking poison.
He was picked up at the “Chopin road near the old WASCO plant”, a resident said.
It is alleged that the young man, who is of unsound mind, informed family members that he drank the substance.
It is further alleged that ambulance personnel left with the bottle which contained the suspected poisonous substance.
“He was spitting up phlegm,” the resident also told this publication.
Police officials confirmed that Smith ingested gramoxone, which caused his death.
Though officers attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) in Castries Central have raised concerns about poor working conditions, the Police Welfare Association said it was not officially informed of the issue.
President of the association Camron Laure told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) on Wednesday, July 8, that he was only made aware of the situation after reading the article on this news website.
Laure said that had the officers made an official report with his association, they would have assisted in making sure that the issue is addressed in a timely manner.
However, the Police Welfare Association head said he visited the department on Tuesday to assess the situation and was surprised that the officers had to work under those conditions.
While Laure believes that the new furnishings being procured for the office could help to alleviate some of the problems, he believes that the officers’ homes need to be treated as well to eliminate the bug infestation.
He said he was informed that the office was treated twice for bug infestation, but it keeps reoccurring.
The department also have dilapidated office furnishings and malfunctioning computers, which are interfering with the work flow of the officers.
A majority of the department’s computers were damaged during an island-wide power outage this year. At present, only two computers in the front of the office are operational.
Sources say about seven officers work per shift. This means that only two computers are available for seven officers on each shift, which puts a strain on recording information and investigations.
“These men (senior officers) not feeling it so they can say what they want. Constables are the ones being squeezed,” one of the sources told SNO.
The administration of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has indicated that its plans to fix the problem, by providing new furnishing and treating the office for bed bugs again.
Police reportedly shot and injured a man on Upper Chaussee Road, Castries (near Grass Street/Marchand Road) just before 12 noon Wednesday, July 8.
The alleged victim was rushed to Victoria Hospital.
His condition is unknown at this time.
The circumstances surround the shooting is not yet clear.
Endless death threats have sent a Lastic Hill, Castries family into fear, as a group of men are hell-bent on making their lives a misery.
One frustrated family member, who asked not to be named, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) today (July 9) that he is fearful that these threats can become a reality, if the police do not intervene.
The teenager related that the said men who are also from the same area, began harassing his family sometime late last year after he witnessed them breaking and entering a neighbour’s home.
He said after the police turned up at the scene, he related to them what he saw. The men were arrested and subsequently released.
Since then, the teen said the men have been hurling threats at him and his family.
However, the young man said everything was normal for a couple of months, until suddenly people’s homes were under attack again and some were even robbed in the area.
According to the source, the men have also become aggressive towards him and his family, to the point where no one feels safe anymore and are afraid that they could be harmed.
“I don’t even feel safe in my home. They threatened to kill me. They saw my mother and threatened her too and they pulled a cutlass and placed it on my sister’s neck and threatened her too,” he said.
The young man explained that the men even threatened to kidnap his two little brothers.
The 19-year-old told SNO that he went to the Central Police Station about three weeks ago when the incident first started and was asked to return the next day, which he did, to provide more details.
While the police have taken a full statement from the youth, they are yet to take action against the alleged perpetrators.
The family is asking that the relevant authorities investigate the issue.
* Not actual gun.
A 16-year-old male who was arrested by police on Thursday for possession of a firearm and ammunition will be charged sometime later today.
Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, said that a .380 pistol and 13 matching rounds of ammunition were found in the youth’s possession.
Police intelligence led to the arrest of the Wilton’s Yard (Graveyard), Castries youth yesterday, Thursday, July 9.
Desir told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that the police are going after the persons who might be responsible for the recent shootings in the Castries area.
He said persons have been arrested in connection with some of the recent homicides, but explained that at times there is not enough information to lay charges.
The crime chief told SNO that the police rely on eyewitness and scientific evidence, but noted that it’s difficult for persons to give evidence because of fear of retaliation.
He said that as a result, the police take the information and try to obtain the scientific evidence needed that could lead to charges being laid.
The victim sustained wounds to his legs and face.
A young male sustained chop wounds in Dennery at about 10 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2015, an eyewitness has told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).
The victim was taken to Dennery Hospital and was expected to be transferred to the Victoria Hospital. His status is unknown at this time.
The source said the young man sustained wounds to his “lower extremities and his face”. The incident occurred near the “laundry by the infant school” on Victoria Street, the source added.
It is not clear if the victim was attacked or if he was involved in an altercation.
Several men being searched.
In attempt to quell the alleged gang violence in Castries, which has claimed the lives of at least five persons and resulted in the injuries of at least six others over the past several months, police officers, backed by the Special Services Unit (SSU), conducted an operation on the Chaussee Road and communities nearby.
Wilton’s Yard, also known as the Graveyard, was one of the communities targeted in the operation. Police officers were seen searching several men in the volatile community.
The lawmen also set up a road block on the Chaussee.
Several persons were brought into custody. It is not yet clear what offences they committed.
However, police, acting on intelligence, arrested a 16-year-old male in Wilton’s Yard on Thursday, July 9.
Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) in a previous interview that a .380 pistol and 13 matching rounds of ammunition were found in the youth’s possession.
Desir had said the police are going after the persons who might be responsible for the recent shootings in the Castries area.
He said persons have been arrested in connection with some of the recent homicides, but explained that at times there is not enough information to lay charges.
Denis Rufin in hospital after suffering multiple chop wounds on Thursday.
Thursday’s chopping of a young man in Dennery village may stem from the discovery of a bag, believed to contain drugs, that was retrieved from the sea by two men, sources close to the victim have told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).
Denis Rufin, 22, sustained wounds to his heels, the lower part of his right knee and the right side of his face. The attack occurred between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. Thursday, July 9 near the “laundry by the infant school” on Victoria Street, a source told SNO.
Rufin was transported to Dennery Hospital. He was reportedly scheduled to undergo surgery at Victoria Hospital on Friday.
“They were running after him and he fell. That was when they lashed him with the cutlass. It was two young guys from the same area (Dennery village),” the source told SNO.
Unconfirmed reports are that two suspects were brought into custody.
But SNO understands that this is not the first time Rufin was being attacked. Reports are that on June 28, at Dennery village, the same suspects robbed him of his phone and money, and stripped him of his clothes.
“He made a report (to the police) and nothing was being done,” the source alleged.
What is behind the attacks?
“It is said that he had gotten some drugs in a sack, just by the islet in Dennery,” the source said.
SNO understands that a few weeks ago, a sack was spotted offshore and Rufin and a friend went on a boat to retrieve it.
It is further alleged that Rufin and his friend claimed to not have found anything of worth in the bag. However, it appears that other men did not buy this story.
A relative confirmed the information about the sack with SNO, while pointing out that the men are strangely not after Rufin’s friend, apparently.
“I believe since he is a quiet person they got an upper hand on him,” the relative said.
Commenting further on the discovery of the bag, the relative added: “I was told that the bag contained a bottle and it was just floating. They went after the sack which they thought had drugs.
“They saw it from the fishing port when some boys spotted it floating, so he (Rufin) and a friend went to check it out using a boat, and they retrieved the bag with the bottle but found nothing in it. So they believe that Rufin got something in the bag. And again since he is a quiet person so they took advantage on him. The men saw the bag too but they believe that it had something.”
Friends and family members are hoping that the police will get to the bottom of this incident before it escalates any further.
Police officers during Friday’s operation.
About eight males who were brought into custody during a massive joint police operation in Castries on Friday, July 10 have been released, Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, has told St. Lucia News Online (SNO).
Contrary to other news reports, Desir said no one was officially arrested during the operation. He said the men were questioned and released.
The senior cop said the Friday afternoon operation was carried out by officers from the Special Services Unit (SSU), Drugs Squad, Criminal Investigations Department, and the Major Crimes Unit in Wilton’s Yard, popularly known as the Graveyard.
Desir said several small quantities of marijuana were recovered in the operation, which involved the searching of homes, vehicles and individuals in Wilton’s Yard. A road block was set up on Chaussee Road to facilitate the exercise.
The operation was in response to a wave of homicides and shootings that have claimed the lives of at least four people from communities in the vicinity of Wilton’s Yard, over the past several months.
Desir said the police is planning to carry out more operations, but declined to say where and when they will take place.
Cheryl Clarke and Victor Wilson
To date, police have no “conclusive” motives for the killings of Victor Chard Wilson and Cheryl Clarke, Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, has said.
Desir said a number of persons were assisting police with the two homicide cases, but police have yet to identify a suspect or arrest anyone.
He made it clear that the persons who were being questioned in connection with the homicides were not suspects. However, the crime chief said the investigations are still being carried out.
When St. Lucia News Online asked Desir if he believes the killings were gang-related, he said the police have no conclusive motives at this time, but are exploring every possible lead.
Wilson and Clarke were St. Lucia’s 11th and 10th homicide victims, respectively.
Wilson, 26, of Bocage, Castries was shot in Wilton’s Yard (also known as The Graveyard) at about 5:20 a.m. on Saturday, July 4. He reportedly ran and collapsed on Chisel Street in front the Hair Factory store. He was pronounced dead at 6:10 a.m. at Victoria Hospital. Police said he sustained gunshot wounds to the neck.
Clarke, 51, of Bexon, Castries but lived at Wilton’s Yard, was shot multiple times a few minutes after midnight on Friday, June 26, 2015 at the intersection of Broglie and Brazil Street, Castries, shortly after leaving a bar (upstairs Starlite) where she had reportedly been “playing the game machines”.
She died two to three hours later while reportedly undergoing surgery at Victoria Hospital. A post mortem revealed that Clarke died from hemorrhagic shock due to multiple gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
Police discovered an abandoned vehicle with a bullet hole in the driver’s door and bullet holes in the driver’s seat at the scene of the shooting.
Clarke’s husband Asher ‘BJ’ Emmanuel, 48, of Bexon, Castries but was living at Wilton’s Yard, was fatally shot on the morning of April 7, 2015 at the Chaussee Road/Leslie Land intersection. Jamie Butcher, 22, of Rose Hill, Castries was charged with his murder.
Her brother, Arthur ‘Afoo’ Clarke, was gunned down in Chase Gardens, Castries on January 27, 2011 as he exited his vehicle. He was 48.
The scene of the shooting last Wednesday.
A man, well-known to the police, who allegedly engaged the lawmen in gun battle last week and was shot, will be charged soon, a senior police officer has said.
The man, whose name will not be released until he is charged, was shot in the leg after he opened fire on the police, Acting Assistant Commissioner in Charge of Crime and Intelligence, Milton Desir, has said.
The incident occurred on Upper Chaussee Road, Castries (near Grass Street/Marchand Road) just before 12 noon Wednesday, July 8.
Desir said a 9mm pistol with eight rounds of ammunition was recovered.
The man faces firearm and attempted murder charges, Desir said.
He will be charged when he is discharged from hospital – the earliest, on Monday, Desir added.
