“Is me friend give it to me fuh keep” – man tells cops
…as 5 arrested for unlicensed gun, ammo
At least five persons are in Police custody following the discovery of an illegal firearm along with matching ammunition.
The weapon was found about 23:50h on Saturday by ranks of the Beterverwagting (BV) Police Station, East Coast Demerara (ECD).
At the time, the officers were on mobile anti-crime patrol duty when they intercepted a vehicle and detained the driver, along with four occupants, after a search unearthed the unlicensed firearm and two live rounds of ammunition.
Based on Police reports, the patrol ranks were in the vicinity of the Railway Embankment at Success, ECD, heading west when they observed a gold coloured Toyota motor car bearing registration PRR 9318, which about 30 feet ahead, also proceeding west.
The unlicensed firearm and ammunition found by Police
The car was intercepted and the driver gave his name as Quacy Simon, a 30-year-old construction worker of Buxton, ECD, along with four other occupants who gave their names as Joshua Bevney, called Aaron, a 21-year-old from Friendship, ECD; Alex Jordan, a 32-year-old from Vigilance North, ECD; Daniel Rodrigues, a 29-year-old from Friendship, ECD; and Bariek Williams, a 21-year-old from Friendship, ECD.
The five occupants were all asked to exit the vehicle for a search to be conducted on their person and the car with which they complied. While the search was being conducted, Police said that Jordan and Bevney were seen acting suspiciously. A search was immediately conducted on Bevney during which a live round of ammunition and an empty suspected .22 magazine were found in his left front pocket. He was asked if he was the holder of a firearm licence to carry the ammunition, and he replied that he was not.
He was told of the offence committed and cautioned, to which he replied, “Is me friend give it to me fuh keep”. He was then questioned if there was a firearm, and he indicated that it was behind the car seat. He then pointed out the area in question.
The vehicle in which the suspects were travelling when they were intercepted
According to Police, Bevney was further asked if he had a firearm licence to carry the firearm, and he said ‘no’. He was told of the offence committed and cautioned, to which he replied: “Is me friend give me them thing fuh keep.”
The Police ranks conducted a further search of the vehicle and found a second suspected live .22 round of ammunition inside.
The driver and the occupants were all escorted to the BV Police Station, where they were detained. The firearm and ammunition were photographed, dusted for latent prints, packed, sealed, and lodged in their presence.
The motorcar was also lodged as investigations into the discovery continue. (G8)
