Contaminating crime scenes a ‘very serious’ issue
Man cleans out dead man’s pockets after Airy Castle shooting
Published:Thursday | August 31, 2023 | 12:11 AMAndre Williams/Staff Reporter
COMMANDER OF the St Andrew North Police Division, Superintendent Shericka Service, says it is a very serious offence when a crime scene is compromised, and those culpable can be held liable.
She issued the warning after reports surfaced that the pocket of a dead man was searched at a murder scene Sunday in upper St Andrew.
The Gleaner understands that the daring individual was cut on the finger by a razor blade, which was in the pocket of the deceased.
He reportedly took $2,400.
Superintendent Service said while she has no knowledge of the incident, once a crime is reported to the police, they proceed to the scene as soon as possible and secure the area where the crime was committed.
“Generally speaking, it is a serious issue because evidence can be lost or damaged if persons tamper with the crime scene. That can definitely impede the investigations on numerous levels,” Service told The Gleaner.
The Gleaner understands that on Sunday, the deceased, 28-year-old Ricardo Mills, was shot and killed by a lone gunman at about 9:05 p.m. on Airy Castle Road in St Andrew.
It appears that Mills was targeted as the gunman reportedly made his escape in a waiting vehicle.
Mills is of a Granton Avenue, May Pen, address and was in the community for gaming (gambling).
Eyewitnesses say they were stunned into silence at what happened next.
“The police dem tek more than half hour to reach the scene. The guy never dead immediately. The person go in the pocket and him say a $2,400 him get … another attempt was made to retrieve the dead man's phone … a plastic bag was placed over the hand this time. People were shocked,” the resident said.
The Gleaner gathered that the local police has since sought to locate the individual who tampered with the scene.
Service said: “We would love to contact them (witnesses) and speak with them, even to get a statement and to see what exactly they took from the man's pocket and to see how that will, or if it will, impact the investigation in whatever way.”
The area commander told The Gleaner that she would make her own checks on the matter.
The Gleaner's news team was at a murder scene in the same community weeks ago, where the crime scene was also contaminated.
On August 10, gunmen struck along the Old Golden Spring Road and killed a man.
Before the police arrived at that scene, residents, including family members of the deceased, were seen next to the body.
The mother and babymother sat by the deceased on a video call.
Others with recording devices trampled over the murder scene trying to get the best angles.
As soon as the police team arrived, the area was cordoned and onlookers kept at bay.
The police say investigations into both murders are ongoing.