ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC — Six men, including a ‘don’ suspected of drug trafficking, have been arrested here after threatening to give lawmen a “taste of Jamaica”.
During an appearance in the Gouyave Magistrate Court yesterday, wanted man Marvin Lewis and five other co-accused were also slapped with a total of 10 charges each, including disorderly behaviour, using insulting and threatening language, resisting arrest, obstruction of justice and causing harm and assault to police.
The other men – Callister Duncan, Gino Warren, Mathias Redhead, Frederick Language and Roseius Langaigne – were individually granted bail in the amount of EC$8,000 (US$ 2,996).
The charges stem from a police raid which took place in the western village of Black Bay on Saturday night.
Members of the Special Services Unit and Rapid Response Unit had to be called in to provide back up support for the Gouyave police, who raided a bar after receiving a tip off that Lewis, 24, was seen socialising there.
In a scene reminiscent of the recent standoff between the Jamaican security forces and residents in Tivoli Gardens loyal to criminal strongman Christopher ‘Dudus’ Coke, Grenada police say they were forced to fire several warning shots in the area.
Head of community relations Superintendent Dunbar Belfon said that apart from using obscenities, the accused men hurled stones and threats at lawmen and were telling the police ‘to leave the don alone’.
“They were throwing stones and other objects in the direction of the police and it was then that the police fired some warning shots to calm in the situation,” Belfon said.
Eyewitnesses said the scene was not different from what is seen in the movies, with police and the main suspect running through the community as the wanted man sought tried to escape the lawmen.
No one was shot but two people – including a police officer – were reportedly injured in the melee.
Following the incident, Belfon said the police would be stepping up their vigilance and he warned that they would not allow Grenada to get into the hands of drug men.
“We will not allow this to happen in Grenada, the Jamaica experience is something we don’t want,” he said.
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