ONE-MINUTE READS... News from across Jamaica

Man charged after teen suffers harrowing ordeal

A St Ann man who allegedly abducted a teen girl and forcibly had sexual intercourse with her has been charged by the police.

The man, whose identity is being withheld to safeguard the victim, has been formally charged with abduction, rape, grievous sexual assault, and unlawful detention.

The charges follow a harrowing incident in his community between Thursday, February 19, and Saturday, February 21.

According to the Centre for Investigation of Sexual Offences and Child Abuse, the accused, a 33-year-old man, allegedly approached a teenage girl at around midnight on February 19 and made sexual advances. He is said to have taken her to his home without her consent, where he sexually assaulted her. The man reportedly kept the teen captive until residents discovered and rescued her on February 21.

Residents apprehended the man and handed him over to the police. He was formally charged on Monday, February 23, and a court date is being scheduled.

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Pump attendant charged after woman set on fire

Detectives from the Westmoreland Police Division have charged 30-year-old Collate Swaby, a pump attendant of Old Road, Whithorn, Westmoreland, with assault occasioning bodily harm following an incident captured in a viral video last Thursday

Police reports indicate that around midday, a woman visiting Swaby's service station became involved in a confrontation, which allegedly escalated when Swaby doused her with a flammable substance and set her on fire.

Bystanders intervened, extinguishing the flames and transporting her to hospital, where she remains under treatment.

Swaby was arrested, questioned, and formally charged on Monday, February 23.

A court date is being finalised.

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Alleged gun salute lands farmer in hot water

Sheldon Smith, 35, also known as 'Blacks', a farmer from Scott Town district, Greenvale, Manchester, has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon, unauthorised possession of ammunition, and using a firearm to endanger the lives of others, following allegations that he fired a gun in a salute at a community event last Saturday.

Mandeville police report that around 11 p.m., they were called to a local event after gunshots were heard. During a search, six spent casings were recovered. Smith was later identified as a suspect and arrested at his premises on Monday, February 23, following a police operation.

The charges were laid after Smith reportedly confessed and CCTV footage corroborated the events.

A court date is being arranged.

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Intruder found in bathroom

A Clarendon man who was allegedly seen in the bathroom of a house in which he had broken into has been charged with housebreaking with intent and malicious destruction of property.

The man, Andre McKenzie, 27, of Fosmore Drive, May Pen, was charged in relation to an incident at Grove Road, Mandeville, Manchester, on February 7.

The police report that a woman left her 15-year-old daughter inside a locked home around 2:35 p.m. The teen later heard noises and discovered McKenzie inside the bathroom. An alarm was raised, allowing McKenzie to escape through a bathroom window. Investigators determined that he entered the house using a ladder on the property and damaged a surveillance camera valued at $8,000.

McKenzie was apprehended the same day and gave a caution statement on February 9, reportedly confessing to the crimes. His court date is being scheduled.

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Deportee charged for 10-year-old gun attack

A deportee has been slapped with serious criminal charges, days after he returned to the island from The Bahamas.

Police identified him as Akeem Jackson, 31, also known as 'Bobo Sparks', of Twickenham Park, St Catherine. The lawmen alleged that Jackson was among a group of men involved in a gun attack in his community nearly 10 years ago.

Police reports indicate that about 3:20 a.m., Jackson and armed accomplices reportedly fired at a woman's home on Wednesday, September 28, 2016. The occupants escaped unharmed.

An investigation reportedly revealed that Jackson had fled the island. He was deported from The Bahamas last Friday, and apprehended during an intelligence-led operation.

Jackson was formally charged with two counts of shooting with intent, malicious destruction of property, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and using a firearm to commit an offence.

He is scheduled to appear before the Spanish Town Circuit Court on Friday.