Alleged killer police impersonators nabbed in St James
Published:Wednesday | November 13, 2019 | 12:44 AMHopeton Bucknor/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
The St James police are reportedly making headway into unmasking police impersonators who have been on a deadly rampage in the parish, driving terror into the hearts of residents.
“We have identified suspects in the three most recent incidents. In one of the cases, we have arrested men and they will be charged between later this evening and early tomorrow,” a senior police officer told The Gleaner yesterday. “We are urging the public not to panic as we are going after those involved.”
The latest crimes unfolded last Saturday with 30-year-old David Grinnard, a labourer of the Barrett Hall community in Lilliput, and 80-year-old Ugene Duncan, a retired farmer of Buck Toe Lane in Salt Spring, being killed in separate incidents by gangsters impersonating cops.
In the first incident, which occurred at 5 a.m., Grinnard and a woman were at his house when men declaring that they were police officers began banging on the door. Before they could respond, the door was kicked in by the thugs.
Grinnard was shot multiple times as the woman looked on helplessly. Before leaving, the men set the house on fire with the woman inside. She, however, managed to escape unharmed.
In the second incident, which occurred about 5:30 a.m., Duncan was at his Salt Spring home when he heard knocking on his window and voices calling out, “Open up! Police!”
Duncan reportedly approached the window and was greeted with heavy gunfire, killing him on the spot.
“We believe we are well on the way to solving that murder, as based on intelligence, we were able to pick up two suspects,” said the senior police officer.
Saturday’s killings mirror a similar incident that occurred in Paisley district last Friday, when 26-year-old farmer Jommoy Pinnock was killed shortly after 4:30 a.m. by men who barged into his home, claiming they were police officers.
According to reports, Pinnock and a female companion were at home when they were awakened by men banging on their door, shouting, “Open up! Open up! Police!”
Before they could open the door, it was forced open. Pinnock was placed face down on the floor and was executed, but the woman was spared.
In light of the incidents, residents are being warned not to open their doors unless they are able to ascertain that those claiming to be police officers are truly members of the force.
“Just don’t open your door. Turn on the light and try to look outside from a safe position,” the senior police said. “The police are usually clearly identifiable by their uniforms and we only use marked vehicles.”