...Ex SRP among 5 charged with teen kidnappings

SHELDON “Skelly” Lovell is now the country’s most wanted man and is one of three men whom police have issued warrants of arrest for in connection with the July 16 kidnappings of teenagers Yves Ayoung Chee and Benedict Barrette. Police could only identify the other two wanted men as “Gumbo” and “Fruity,” both from Morvant.  They are three of five people whom members of the Anti Kidnapping Squad (AKS) have charged with the teenagers kidnappings. Yesterday, former Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer Reginald Gibson, 34, of Phase 4 Beetham, and Kenny Bonnett, 24, of Eastern Main Road, Laventille, appeared before a Justice of the Peace at the Port-of-Spain Magistrate’s Court charged with a total of four offences. Gibson, who lawmen said used to play football for the police team, and Bonnett, both of whom were arrested by police on Monday, were charged with two counts each of kidnapping Ayoung Chee and Barrette, as well as two counts each of falsely imprisoning them.

The JP refused them bail and they were remanded into police custody to August 8. Charges were laid by AKS officer, Sgt Lynch following extensive work by the department’s head, Sr Supt Gilbert Reyes, acting Supt Henry Millington and Insp Adam Joseph, all of whom were rewarded yesterday with $400 cheques for “painstaking investigations” according to Ann Marie Grant, PRO of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). While police released a photo of Lovell, 27, they were unable to do the same for “Gumbo” and “Fruity.”  A $25,000 reward has since been put out for the capture of Lovell, who police said lives “all about” but mostly frequents Morvant. During a short speech to the media, National Security Minister Chin Lee described the three wanted men as “top ranking criminals involved in recent high profile kidnappings.”  They are also charged with falsely imprisoning Ayoung Chee and Barrette, who were snatched by men driving a vehicle with a siren at Marli Street. Police sources said the three wanted men are believed to be behind several kidnappings, including that of psychologist Ronald John and Kishore Singh, who later died. However, evidence was lacking and police said no charges could have been made. 

The successes of the police were commended by both Minister Chin Lee and acting Commissioner of Police Everald Snaggs at a media briefing at the Police Administration Building. Chin Lee told the media that over the last few months and intensifying within the last couple of days, the full weight of the AKS and Intelligence Units have been focused on breaking the crime rings that have been responsible for the majority of kidnappings plaguing the country. “This exercise conducted by the combined security services of the Police Service and Defence Force personnel have yielded a major breakthrough,” the Minister said. Chin Lee then speculated that with the major breakthrough, the arrests of other members of crime gangs will be imminent.  He commended the units involved. Snaggs, also in a brief speech, said over the past two weeks the police have increased its efforts to address the crime situation in the country, and that it is imperative that members of the public know of the successes they have made. Several persons were arrested and several searches were carried out, Snaggs said, adding that special emphasis has been placed on crimes involving firearms and ammunition by the Firearms Interdiction Unit. As a result, the top cop said, operational activities were held in several areas throughout Trinidad, particularly, in Northern, Central, Port-of-Spain and Western areas.

Over 17 firearms and more than 400 rounds of ammunition have been seized, the lastest Snaggs said being Monday’s seizure of 211 rounds of ammunition. Snaggs said it was a member of the public who called a police station in the North Eastern Division and provided valuable information which led to the seizure of the 211 rounds of ammunition in Barataria. “These successes are testimony to the growing confidence the public has in the police service,” Snaggs said, adding that there has been an increasing number of calls to police stations, and even a 300 percent increase to Crime Stoppers. Snaggs thanked members of the public and said as a consequence of the resounding work done by police officers, there was a need to reward them. Seven were given $150 for the seizure of compressed marijuana on July 26; 16 were rewarded for dedication and devotion for firearm and ammunition seizure on July 27, while special commendation awards were given to 19 officers, also for firearm and ammunition seizure.