Police officers recently arrested a twenty-nine-year-old from Maynard Hill, Castries for unlawful possession of a firearm, a police report indicated today.
The officers who were wearing plain clothes were conducting patrols in the city last Friday, about 11:00 a.m., when they had cause to search Jevon Defage.
According to the report, officers recovered a 4.5mm air pistol on Defage on Brazil Street. Defage was subsequently charged for unlawful Possession of Firearm, Contrary to Section 22 (3) of the amended Firearms Act No. 18 of 2022.
Defage was escorted before the First District Court on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, where he was granted bail in the sum of $15,000.00 cash or suitable surety, with reporting conditions and travel restrictions.
More Arrests…
Officers attached to the Micoud Police Station also arrested 38-year old Jeremiah Smith of Micoud for unlawful Possession of Firearm a few days prior.
Officers recovered a 9mm pistol on Smith after searching the 38-year-old on Tuesday, December 24, 2022, about 1:20 a.m.
He was escorted before the Second District Court where he was granted bail in the sum of $5000.00 cash or suitable surety.
Officers attached to the Special Services Unit were on mobile patrol in Vieux Sucre, Gros Islet on New Year’s Day when they conducted a search of a motor vehicle.
The search was conducted around 1:20 a.m.
“Officers recovered a Beretta pistol with a magazine containing four rounds of ammunition. The two occupants of the vehicle were arrested and have been formally charged for unlawful Possession of Firearm and Ammunition,” the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) stated in a press release.
According to the press release, “37-year-old Eldone Jn Baptiste, a resident of Grande Riviere, Gros Islet and Hamadi Monchery a 24-year-old resident of Degazon, Grande Riviere were escorted before the First District Court, on Wednesday, January 4, 2023, for a bail hearing.”
Monchery was granted bail in the sum of $10,000.00 in relation to the charge of Possession of Firearm and $2500.00 for Possession of Ammunition. Jn Baptiste on the other hand, was granted bail in the sum of $20,000.00 cash or suitable surety in relation to the charge of Possession of Firearm and $5000.00 cash or suitable surety for unlawful Possession of Ammunition.
The matter was adjourned to January 24, 2023 for case management.
Officers attached to the Special Services Unit also confiscated one live 12 Gauge round of ammunition recently after conducting a search on a male in Castries.
“On Tuesday, January 3, 2023 about 10:12 p.m., officers attached to the Special Services Unit were on mobile patrol when they conducted a search on a group of males on Chausee Road.
During the conduct of a search on the person of a male resident of Carielle, Castries, one live 12 Gauge round of ammunition was recovered. The suspect was arrested for unlawful Possession of Ammunition and is currently in police custody pending charging,” the RSLPF said in its statement.