Escapee now a murder suspect

A man who has been on the run for two months after he mysteriously “walked out” of a police lock-up in St James is now a “major suspect” in the killing of the complainant in his assault case, a top police official has revealed.

The male complainant, who was also expected to give evidence in court, was shot to death in the community of Flankers, also in St James, according to police investigators.

The killing occurred days after two men, including his alleged attacker Alex Scott, vanished from the Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay on October 24 in yet another jailbreak under probe as to whether there was a large cash payment to facilitate the escape

Scott, 20, was facing a charge of wounding with intent.

The second escapee – identified as Ainsley Woodburn, 29 – was awaiting trial for a double murder.

“The other person who was charged with the lesser offence … is now a major suspect in a murder case where the person who was the complainant in his matter was shot and killed,” Assistant Commissioner of Police Clifford Chambers told The Sunday Gleaner on Friday, referring to Scott.

“Investigators are looking at him as a prime suspect,” he added.

But while investigators from the police oversight unit are searching for answers about the jailbreak, Chambers, the highest-ranking officer in western Jamaica, said that he personally had visited the lock-up and saw no damage to the cells.

“So, from my standpoint, it is clear that the persons were either let out or the locks were left opened by some mistake,” he opined.

“I’m eagerly awaiting the findings,” said Chambers, referring to the investigation being conducted by the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB) of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

MYSTERIOUS ‘ESCAPE’

Since August this year, at least eight prisoners have escaped from four different police lock-ups under mysterious circumstances.

Among them is Orville Purnell, who reportedly walked out of his cell at Central Police Station in downtown Kingston on December 1 amid swirling allegations that millions of dollars exchanged hands to secure his unauthorised release.

Purnell, a 27-year-old Jamaican, had also escaped police custody in St Lucia, where he is wanted for murder and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

He was scheduled to face an extradition hearing on December 6.

“He never escaped, really. We believe that he just walked out of the station,” said a senior police officer close to the investigation, noting that there were no discernible signs that Purnell’s cell was tampered with.

The allegations were the same for the jailbreak at the Freeport Police Station, according to one source, who said investigators believe millions of dollars were paid to facilitate the unauthorised release of Scott and Woodburn.

“A $5 million pay for that one a MoBay,” said the inside source, charging that the cells housing both men had no signs of defects that would indicate how they escaped.

“You notice you nuh hear nothing else ‘bout it since it happen? Police dem nah get paid, so they are willing to collect.”

Chambers – the commander for the Police Area One, which spans the parishes of Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland – said he was aware of the allegations, but could not confirm them.

‘SURROUNDING CIRCUMSTANCES’

Investigators are certain to take an interest in the lifestyle of some of the cops who were on duty at the time Scott and Woodburn escaped custody, a veteran detective disclosed.

“One of the things that the investigators, I’m sure, will be looking at is what we refer to as surrounding circumstances,” said the detective.

“So, if any of those persons who were working, you see any change in their lifestyle or an accumulation of assets even though they are on suspension, … those would be red flags.”

A number of cops have been suspended in the wake of the jailbreak, Chambers disclosed.

Further, he said all cops who were at the station have provided an initial report, which has been turned over to IPROB.

“I am sure that at the end of the day, the investigation will be comprehensively done and persons will be held [accountable] if they are found to be responsible,” the Area One commander insisted.

He, however, cautioned against broad-brushing police personnel assigned to western parishes, asserting that claims of widespread corruption are not supported by available data.

“One of the things I did was to ask for a report on all the persons who are out on corruption charges or on suspension because of alleged corruption and the list that I was provided with was small,” he disclosed.

“Maybe it is as a result of people’s reluctance to come forward and make a report, but it’s something that is talked about far more than what is recorded, documented and prosecuted,” Chamber insisted.

Other escapees still on the run are Prince Levy, 29, also called ‘Tallman’, who has been charged with murder; Junior Creary, 25, also called ‘Whopper’, who has been charged with wounding with intent involving the use of a gun; and David Taylor, 44, who has been charged with having sex with a minor.

They were discovered missing from the Port Royal police lock-up in east Kingston on August 30 and preliminary investigations revealed that they escaped by cutting a hole in the cell door.

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