Criminals allegedly fleeing western Jamaica last week engaged police in St Ann, wounding one with a grenade and forcing the calling of soldiers to the south of the parish.
The action took place in a section of a squatter settlement in Armadale, near Alexandria where gunmen said to have been involved in a quadruple murder in Westmoreland had taken refuge. It is not clear how many men were taking refuge in the area but some reports say as many as five men from Hanover and Westmoreland were hiding out in Armadale.
Police from the Mobile Reserves on Thursday went to the area and found resistance from the men who were well armed. One of the men was shot dead, reportedly in an exchange with police.
However police said they have intensified their search for a man implicated in a grenade-throwing incident in Armadale, St Ann on Thursday night, March 23 in which a police sergeant was wounded and an alleged gunman killed.
The wanted man is 26 year-old Sadan Lloyd Mullings of Elgin Town, Lucea in Hanover.
The police stated in a release from the Corporate Communications Unit (CCU) that Mullings is also wanted in connection with several serious crimes in western Jamaica and St Ann.
One of those serious crimes is alleged to be a quadruple murder that rocked the nation, with four men being shot dead in Westmoreland earlier this month.
Despite an appeal for Mullings to turn himself over to the police immediately, he remains on the run at this time.
The release from CCU released on Friday, March 24 stated that: “Reports are that about 9:00 p.m., a team of police was conducting coordinated operations at Armadale, Alexandria in St. Ann in search of men implicated in the quadruple murder in Westmoreland on Saturday, March 18. The Police strategically cordoned the premises and instructed the occupants to exit however explosive devices were reportedly thrown at the Police team. Actions were taken to counter the attack.”
The report continued by stating: “As investigations continue to unfold, the Jamaica Defence Force, which has expertise in explosives, had been called in to assist.”
These explosive devices were two grenades.
Head of crime for St Ann, deputy superintendent (DSP) Richard Hilton explained last Friday to The Times that the JDF had been called in at that point to assist the police and the JDF soldiers managed to prevent one of the grenades from detonating. DSP Hilton also explained that the JDF soldiers also helped in providing aerial support during the operation.
A policeman from the Mobile Reserves suffered chest injuries by one of the grenades that exploded. However, his injuries are not considered life threatening.
Following the grenade attack, the gunmen reportedly engaged the police in a shootout during which they managed to escape from the house.
After the exchange of gunfire, the police along with members of the JDF carried out a search of the area where the body of a male was found last Friday morning.
The man was later identified as 21-year-old Nicoy Terleven of Elgin Town in Hanover.
He was said to be one of the men who had earlier engaged the police in the attack.
The CCU report said that last Thursday’s grenade throwing incident and gun attack “clearly demonstrates the brazenness of, and the level of arsenal in possession of criminal elements. Citizens are therefore being reminded that the police need their support to prevent, deter and solve crimes. The police are therefore renewing the appeal for residents to be on the alert and look out for suspicious persons and activities in their communities and immediately report anything untoward to the Police.”
In the meantime, while Sadan Mullings remains on the run, the police are asking anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact them.
The public is also being reminded that it is a criminal offence to harbour a criminal.
