Jamaica: 49-year-old man charged for possessing 9 mm pistol

St Elizabeth, Jamaica: The police have arrested a 49-year-old man and charged him for the offence of possessing a 9 mm pistol fixed with a magazine during the mobile patrolling in Middle Quarters at St Elizabeth. The incident is reported to have occurred on Monday night.

The suspect has been identified as Leon Taylor alias Ganja Baby, a resident of the New Town district in Black River in the parish. 

As per the reports, the authorities of Jamaica were conducting a patrolling exercise when they discovered a man standing beside a white motor vehicle with a firearm in his hand. Subsequently, the police officers tried to approach Leon Taylor. However, he tried to escape from the area and ran off. 

The authorities tried to chase him and in the fear of getting caught, the suspect dropped the firearm in a garbage bin in order to protect himself from the officers. 

Following that, the officials of Jamaica arrested the man and conducted a search of the garbage bin in front of him. While conducting the search, the officers found a 9mm pistol fixed with a magazine. 

Therefore, Leon Taylor was arrested and taken into custody along with the firearm caught from him. He was later transferred to the Black River Police Station where the charges were read against him. Notably, the court has not issued any date for Leon Taylor. 

Various residents of the community took to their social media accounts and expressed their views on the news. 

One person with a Facebook account Ewart Samuels commented “What is going through these young men’s head? Guns and more guns. If they can’t own one legally, they have to get it illegal. Why? There is more to life than having a gun.”

Another person with a Facebook handle Kanice Burg commented the following “Praises to you Officers and the team of the Jamaica Eye.”

“Hope him get a long sentence with hard labour,” wrote Janice Mcanuff. 

The residents of Jamaica have expressed their concern regarding the increase in crime rates and have requested the administration to take stringent measures to ensure the safety and security of the citizens. An increase in crime rates will also reduce the number of tourists to the island nation, resulting in poor economic conditions for the country.