Sparta Gang bust - St James most wanted nabbed in St Andrew police raid

WESTERN BUREAU:

The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) has described as a major blow to organised crime the arrest of 10 alleged gang members in St Andrew on Thursday, one of whom was wanted by the St James police for a 2017 double murder.

One of the detainees has been identified as Christopher Boyd, otherwise called ‘Plank’, of Red Dirt in Flankers, St James, who is reputedly a member of the Sparta Gang that operates out of that western Jamaica community. Boyd was arrested following a targeted raid at a guest house in the St Andrew Central Division.

Eight other men, including Lennox ‘Rus Eye’ McLeod, who is also from Flankers and was being sought on charges of wounding with intent, were also taken into custody.

A female companion of Boyd’s, who is said to be 18 years old and also hails from Flankers, was also detained in the operation.

Investigators in police Area One say that Boyd was placed on St James’ most wanted list after he absconded bail on murder charges for the October 22, 2017, killings of David Anglin and Sean Titus. The two were gunned down in Flankers.

The police say Boyd was also being sought for the January 16, 2018, murder of Desmond Clarke, otherwise called ‘Dangles’, and for wounding with intent committed against André Hall, aka ‘Beenie’, at Sangster International Airport roundabout in Montego Bay.

Boyd was also charged with two counts of illegal possession of firearm and illegal possession of ammunition in 2011. Following his court appearance, he was sentenced to serve five years in prison and was released in 2016.

Following the police operation, a video surfaced on social media, where Boyd’s companion was overheard insisting that she would not allow the security forces to drag Boyd alone inside a room of the guest house. The accused man was also overheard in the background pleading for his life, The Gleaner learnt.

Entertainer Tommy Lee, whose real name is Leroy Russell, remains in police custody under the St James state of emergency under suspicion of ties with the Sparta Gang.