Blog Crime Reports

Police are searching for five armed men who attacked and raped a woman in broad daylight on Monday 15th May 2023 in St John's.

The woman was reportedly walking along a road off Friars Hill Road about 4:30pm, when she was pounced upon by 5 men with guns. She was reportedly dragged into nearby bushes and raped by at least two of the men. Her daughter reportedly raised an alarm when she saw her mother's bag along the roadside.

Police say the victim is receiving psycho-social support in the wake of the traumatic experience. Anyone with information which can assist the police's investigation is being asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913, or the Crimestoppers at 800-8477.

May 19, 2023, St.Johns, Antigua and Barbuda

18 year-old Keane Gregoire of Nut Grove was pronounced dead at the Sir Lester Bird Medical Center on Friday, following a traffic collision.

Keane was a passenger inside a motor car that got into a collision around 2 am on Thursday 18 May on the All Saints Road.

The allegations are that the driver of a Grey Toyota BB motor was traveling from South to North along the same road at a high speed, when the driver apparently lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle reportedly skidded off to the Western side of the road before colliding into a concrete column.

Fire Officers from the St. Johns Fire Station were called on the sceneand had to use the Jaws of Life to remove Keane, along with another 19 year-old passenger of Freeman's Village from the wreck.

Both passengers were transported to the sir Lester Bird Center by the Emergency Medical Services with varying injuries.

The driver of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene of the accident and is currently being sought by the police.

Keane was pronounced dead shortly after midnight on Friday.

The police are appealing to anyone with information surrounding the accident to contact the traffic department at Police Headquarters at 462-0125.

The police are further appealing to the driver of the vehicle to present him\herself at any police station without delay.

Police investigations continue after a woman was robbed of her car in St John’s morning of the 12th May 2023.

She told police she was driving alone about 3:45 when she stopped the vehicle in the area of St John’s Street. She then reports a lone, masked gunman pounced and demanded the vehicle at gunpoint. She was not harmed as the robber made off with the vehicle. Police say the vehicle was found abandoned hours later in the Golden Grove area; it is not clear at this point if anything was stolen from the vehicle.

This carjacking follows the theft of a vehicle 48 hours earlier in Potters New Extension. That vehicle was also found abandoned hours later. Law enforcers continue to urge members of the public to be vigilant and to minimize the risk of being a victim of violent crime.

Law enforcers have made swift progress in their probe into the armed robbery at Roti King on night of the 13th May 2023.

Two suspects are now in custody, as police intensify their investigation into the incident in which one of their off-duty colleagues was shot and injured. The officer has since been treated at hospital and discharged Two gun-toting robbers entered the eatery in St John’s City shortly after 10pm and demanded money. The off-duty police officer who was nearby witnessed the unfolding developments and reportedly challenged the robbers. He was shot below the right knee during an ensuing exchange of gunfire.

The robbers escaped with at least XCD$3,000.00 from the business establishment, in addition to tickets for the ‘Farmers Only’ event which was held on Sunday. Anyone with information which can assist in the police’s probe is being asked to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913, or Crimestoppers.

Robbers struck at a food establishment in Bolans the evening of the 4th of May 2023, making off with at least XCD$1,800.00 in cash.

The gun-toting robbers reportedly entered the establishment and demanded money shortly after 7pm. They reportedly fired shots before fleeing on foot, but no one was injured.

Police have been searching the area for the robbers and are asking anyone with information to contact the Criminal Investigations Department at 462-3913.

It seems that there was an altercation between two brothers, Fitzroy Henry and "Rexi," and two other men, Javor Hewitt and Chet Greene Jr., in Bathlodge on May 2nd 2023.

According to reports, Hewitt and Greene Jr. were injured during the altercation, allegedly by Henry and his brother using a metal pipe, cutlass, bottles, and stones. Hewitt was wounded in his face, head, left hand, and right knee, and Greene Jr. was assaulted with a cutlass. Hewitt also claimed that Henry tried to run over him and Greene Jr. with his vehicle.

In addition, Hewitt reported that the brothers maliciously caused damage to several windows on his house by pelting stones, while Jackeyma James of Bathlodge alleged that Henry and his brother had used a stone to damage a metal door at her house.

The police are reportedly investigating the incident to determine the circumstances that led to the injuries and property damage.

Source: https://antiguanewsroom.com/machete-used-in-altercation-leaving-two-men-injured-and-homes-damaged/

On Labour Day, local Soca artist and member of the LSA Band, Allakai 'Soca Villan' Samuel, was hospitalized with severe injuries after a violent altercation.

Samuel underwent surgery on May 3rd 2023, and his condition is currently unknown. The Police Force released a statement expressing general satisfaction with the outcome of the day's celebrations, but the statement has faced criticism due to the violence that took place.

At least four wounding incidents, including a stabbing at Fort James Beach, are being investigated, and a 16-year-old boy, a 17-year-old boy, and a 22-year-old man were among those injured. The violence has been widely condemned, and a recent forum hosted by the Mandy Premier League explored solutions to youth-on-youth violence, but attendance was reportedly disappointing.

The police have not made any arrests or announced charges in connection with the incidents. Meanwhile, graphic photos of the injuries and a video of a mob attack have been circulating on social media, prompting shock and concern from many.

Authorities are investigating a devastating house fire that occurred in Gray Hill, Grays Farm, leaving a young occupant injured.

Firefighters from the St. John's Fire Station were dispatched to the scene and fought hard to save the building and its contents, but unfortunately, the fire completely destroyed the home. The property was owned by Sherilyn Armstrong, but was occupied by Alexander Reid, his wife, and their four children. Reid was at work when he received a phone call notifying him of the fire. His 12-year-old son was transported to the hospital for treatment of injuries sustained during the blaze. The house was connected to utility services but was uninsured.

The police were informed of the fire by a 911 operator, and investigations are ongoing.

A man in his late 30s has been arrested and charged with unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor, following allegations made by the victim's mother.

The Rape Unit is currently investigating the case, which was reported to the Criminal Investigations Department by the mother. She claimed that the man had been having sexual relations with her 15-year-old daughter between January and April of this year. After conducting investigations, the man was detained, questioned, and subsequently arrested and charged with one count of unlawful sexual intercourse with a minor.

The offense is said to have taken place between March 1 and 31.

The police have reminded the public that having sexual intercourse with a person under the age of consent is illegal and carries severe penalties. They encourage anyone who has information about similar incidents to come forward and report them to the police.

The Chief Magistrate denied bail to the US couple arrested at the airport, who are facing multiple charges, including malicious damage, battery on police, resisting arrest, and disorderly conduct.

Larry Parks, 45, and Yetta Purcell, 42, pled not guilty to the Malicious Damage charge related to a vehicle at an apartment in Gambles. The police apprehended them at the airport as they were allegedly attempting to leave the country following the incident.

The couple will remain in His Majesty’s Prison over the weekend, and Magistrate N’gaio Emanuel will preside over their hearing as the airport is under her jurisdiction.

Thieves have once again targeted Ottos Comprehensive Secondary, resulting in the early closure of classes for the day.

This is the third time that the school has been hit by burglars since September of last year. According to Principal Foster Roberts, the thieves broke into the cafeteria and the staff room. They pried off the door knobs of both doors, making one of them unusable for the time being. The thieves reportedly stole speakers that were used by teachers during classes.

Roberts believes that the break-in occurred when there were no security guards present on the school's property.

Nine detainees escaped from Her Majesty's Prison in St. Kitts. However, four of them were quickly recaptured by the authorities.

On April 28th 2023, the St. Kitts police provided an update on the situation, stating that four detainees have been found, but Nicholas Areche, who is believed to be the captain of the boat that allegedly smuggled Africans out of Antigua, is still at large.

Areche's escape is concerning due to his alleged involvement in the smuggling of migrants, which resulted in a fatal boat accident. The boat carrying the migrants sank, leading to the loss of three lives.

The authorities are continuing their search for Areche and have urged anyone with information on his whereabouts to contact them immediately.

Awaiting his sentencing for murder is Kenworth Charles, a former IT technician at Mount St John’s Medical Centre, after being found guilty of killing retired soldier Fitzroy Robins in an altercation that took place on July 24, 2020, in Bay Street, Villa.

Charles, who is currently incarcerated, stabbed Robins to death following an argument that began when he refused to pay for beers he had taken from a woman's cooler. After arriving at the scene, Robins asked Charles to pay for the drinks, which he did, but Charles did not return until the day of the murder, when he confronted Robins and stabbed him multiple times with a knife during a scuffle.

Charles claimed he was under the influence of alcohol and was attacked by Robins, but he was found guilty by the jury. Charles was supposed to be sentenced on March 22, but the hearing was rescheduled for May 5.

On April 23rd 2023:

Authorities have confiscated a quantity of marijuana valued at over $60,000 during a recent drug interdiction operation at V.C. Bird International Airport.

Members of the Narcotics Department and K9 Unit, assisted by the Customs Enforcement Unit, conducted a joint drug interdiction exercise at the airport. During a search of the LIAT cargo shed, officers discovered 11 large packages of marijuana, weighing 10 ½ pounds, concealed in a brown cardboard box.

The seized substance has an estimated street value of $63,000. The box and its contents were transported to Police Headquarters for further investigation.

On April 29th 2023:

Law enforcement has apprehended a 60-year-old man from Grey Hill after he allegedly attempted to rob a superette on Desouza Road.

According to reports, the suspect threatened the cashier with a weapon around 5 pm today but was disarmed by a nearby individual who intervened. The suspect was then detained until police arrived.

Upon examination, it was discovered that the weapon in question was a BB-GUN, and authorities have speculated that the suspect may have been under the influence of drugs or alcohol. The individual who apprehended the suspect is being praised as a hero.

The police are currently investigating the incident.