Adrian Frater, News Editor
ACP Keith 'Trinity' Gardner and members of the St. James Police High Command tour Norwood, St. James, following a flare-up of violence during which five persons were murdered last month. - Photo by Monique Hepburn
WESTERN BUREAU:
The community of Norwood in St. James is now experiencing an uneasy calm. The heavy guns that have been wreaking murderous havoc for most of the better part of the first six months of the year, have now gone silent.
However, the presence of a heavy detachment of police and soldiers, patrolling the community round-the-clock, remains a constant reminder of the gruesome murders, shooting, burning and looting, which have been attributed to the 'Stone Crusher' gang, which is based in the community.
While the residents, who had not fled the community, are now less stressed, incidents such as last Wednesday's arrest of alleged cop-killer, 22-year-old Marvin 'Jodie' Stewart, in Hartford, Westmoreland, has again turned the spotlight on the community.
Stewart, who was wanted for the 2004 killing of Constable Levine Garnett, is said to be a high-profile member of the Stone Crusher gang, who had fled the community following an initiative launched by the St. James police to obliterate the gang and restore peace to Norwood.
At a press conference on April 26, the police released the names and photographs of nine alleged gangsters. The release of the names threw the gang into disarray, as several members were killed in confrontations with the police while others fled the parish.
At least three of the alleged gangsters, who appeared on the list of 'most wanted', turned themselves into the police and have since been charged for various offences, including murder and shooting.
"We are committed to using all the resources at our disposal to bring them to justice," said Assistant Commissioner of Police Keith 'Trinity' Gardner, shortly after the names of the men were released. "We will not rest until normality returns to Norwood."
weapons seized
Among the alleged gangsters who have been killed are at least three men said to be in the top echelons of the gang. A number of weapons have also been seized in various police operations.
The alleged top-flight gangsters who have been killed, include Garfield 'Don' Sawyers, Delano 'Bigga Crime' Williams and reputed gang leader, Michael 'Lassie' Forbes.
Sawyers, said to be a top lieutenant in the gang, was killed two days after his photograph was released to the media at the April 26 press conference. He was reportedly killed in an early-morning shootout.
Williams, said to be the most cold-blooded member of the gang, was killed in an alleged clash with the police in Norwood on Tuesday, May 23. The lawmen said they recovered an Aris Assault Rifle from him.
Forbes was killed in St. Mary in an alleged clash with the police in St. Mary on Wednesday, July 5.
In addition to those killed, at least one alleged member of the gang has been slapped with a lengthy prison sentence. Thirty-five-year old Steve Morris, who was reportedly held with an Intra Tech Luger Sub-machine gun, was sentenced to 15 years imprisonment in the Montego Bay RM Court on Tuesday, June 20.
"Those members of the gang who have not been apprehended are now on the run as a result of the pressure on them," said ACP Gardner. ' Jodie' (Marvin Stewart) was caught in Westmoreland and 'Lassie' fled to St. Mary, where he was killed."
Three alleged members of the gang, who turned themselves in after they were implicated in the brutal July 4 killings of five residents of Norwood, are now facing murder charges. The three accused men have been identified as 23-year old Adrian ' Banga' Lofters, 20-year-old Lenford 'Bunge' Brown and 18-year-old Andre ' Blacka Shine' Cox.
"Things are a lot better these days. We can now go to church at nights again," said an elderly resident, who at one time was contemplating fleeing the community. "I am praying that Norwood will never again see the level of wickedness we experienced between January and July."
