- File
Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, with arm raised, along with friends.
Glenroy Sinclair, Staff Reporter
GOVERNMENT'S CRIME initiative has taken another turn as the long arm of the law reaches out to pull in area dons.
Over the last three weeks, dons have either been arrested or interrogated by police about crimes ranging from murder to extortion. And according to the cops, instructions have been sent to controversial area leaders ordering them to make the journey to the stations.
The Sunday Gleaner understands that the issue of inner-city dons was discussed at a weekly officer's conference called by Commissioner of Police, Francis Forbes, last week.
On Thursday, Matthews Lane area leader, Donald 'Zekes' Phipps, was interrogated by senior detectives at the CIB Headquarters for more than three hours. Word on the street is that he was being questioned about a fire which razed the old Jubilee Market in the commercial district of downtown Kingston last Sunday night.
But Superintendent Calvin Benjamin told The Sunday Gleaner that Zekes was questioned "in connection with the series of crimes being committed in downtown Kingston, including extortion."
Prominent on the list of dons to be questioned, police sources say, is Christopher 'Dudus' Coke of Tivoli Gardens, West Kingston. It is understood that Coke is to answer questions relating to a number of crimes committed in downtown Kingston.
"We have already sent a message to his attorney for him (Coke) to come in and talk to us," a senior police officer at Area 4 Headquarters in Kingston, told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday.
But contacted yesterday, Coke's attorney, Tom Tavares- Finson, denied getting any message from the police for his client. "No, I don't know, I did not get any message," said Mr. Tavares-Finson.
The police have also expressed an interest in talking with an area leader known as 'Pepsi' from Tel Aviv in Central Kingston.
Neville Johnson, alias 'Nev' from the "Spoilers Gang" in Central Kingston, was jailed last month on charges of conspiracy to shooting. He has been linked to the shooting of several persons on Lissant Road. Johnson is the same man whose arrest sparked a massive demonstration in downtown Kingston in October last year. At the time, hundreds of residents protested outside the gates of Central Police Station, demanding that Johnson be released. Later, the police released him to the crowd.
There are also reports that an area leader known as 'Bigga' from the Grants Pen area of St. Andrew, is now in police custody.
Prior to the launch of the Government's new crime plan in December last year, Commissioner Forbes said publicly that the intelligence capability of the Police Force has been greatly improved and police personnel focusing on organised crime, gangs and other groups were preparing a list of names as well as arrest and search warrants, which should provide vital assistance in breaking the rising crime trend.
The Commissioner had indicated that on the list would be the names of gang leaders and their members, whom the police believe are contributing significantly to major criminal activity in Jamaica.
