ANOTHER POLICEMAN CHARGED FOR ALLEGEDLY COVERING UP, CIVILIAN ALSO CHARGED
PORT MARIA, St Mary; Feb 20, 2026
A policeman has been charged with the murder of St Mary businessman Garfield Singh and with gun crimes in connection with the incident in Boscobel in the parish.
Another policeman who was travelling in the car in which the cop escaped the murder scene and which had the loot from the robbery has been charged with misprision of felony.
Charged with murder is 21-year-old constable Qwaine Blake.
(Garfield Singh)
Constable Blake has also been charged with conspiracy to murder, using a firearm to commit a felony, possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, stockpiling ammunition, dealing in firearms and ammunition, and possession of criminal property. Police say he also faces several breaches of the Road Traffic Act.
The other policeman is 25-year-old constable Daz Haynes., charged with misprision of felony. That is taken to mean he knew of the crime and tried to hide or cover it up.
They are both assigned to the Public Safety and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB). Also charged is Tyrone Dacosta, 19, of Greater Portmore, St Catherine.
The North Coast Times was first to report on Tuesday, Feb 17, that two policemen were the prime suspects in the murder of Mr Singh, from whom a large sum of money was also takenwhen he was attacked at home before dawn on Monday, February 9, 2027
Details of that story are found here:
2 COPS MAIN SUSPECTS IN ST MARY BUSINESSMAN’S MURDER
The full Police release is carried unedited here
From the Constabulary Communications Network (CCN)
For immediate release
TWO CONSTABLES AMONG THREE CHARGED FOLLOWING FIREARMS AND
MURDER INVESTIGATION
February 20, 2026 – Two serving members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and a 19-
year-old man have been charged following what began as a firearms investigation and later evolved
into a murder probe spanning multiple divisions.
The charges were laid based on the ruling of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
(DPP) after detectives submitted a comprehensive case file arising from operations conducted
between February 9-10, 2026.
Charged are Constables Qwaine Blake, 21, and Daz Haynes, 25, both assigned to the Public Safety
and Traffic Enforcement Branch (PSTEB), along with Tyrone Dacosta, 19, of Greater Portmore,
St Catherine.
Reports are that on February 9, during an operation along Port Henderson Road in Portmore,
officers intercepted a motor vehicle. A search reportedly led to the seizure of a Taurus 9mm pistol,
ammunition and a sum of cash. A subsequent search of the vehicle uncovered an M16 rifle and
additional ammunition.
What initially began as a firearms and prohibited weapons investigation, detectives say, took a
significant turn as ballistic and other investigative leads emerged. During the course of the probe,
investigators determined that the firearms and individuals were linked to a recent murder
investigation in St Mary.
That murder relates to the shooting death of 59-year-old businessman Garfield Singh at his home
in Boscobel in the early hours of 9 February.
Having followed the natural trajectory of the investigation, evidence was compiled and submitted
to the DPP. On February 19, the DPP ruled that multiple charges be laid against the three men.
Constable Blake has been charged with Murder, Conspiracy to Murder, Using a Firearm to
Commit a Felony, Possession of a Prohibited Weapon, Unauthorised Possession of Ammunition,
Stockpiling Ammunition, Dealing in Firearms and Ammunition, and Possession of Criminal
Property. He also faces several breaches of the Road Traffic Act.
Constable Haynes has been charged with Misprision of Felony. Police say additional charges are
being considered. Dacosta has been charged with possession of a Prohibited Weapon,
Unauthorised Possession of Ammunition and Dealing in Firearms and Ammunition.
The matter has been reported to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and
the JCF’s Inspectorate of Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB). At no point did the
JCF intend to isolate the Commission from the investigation. Senior representatives of INDECOM
were formally briefed during a meeting on February 19 by the JCF on the nature, scope and
progression of the investigation. All relevant files and investigative materials were made available
to the oversight body.
The JCF remains committed to ensuring that allegations involving its members are investigated
thoroughly, professionally and without fear or favour.
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