Eight charged in St James lottery-scam operation as police shootings face review

Eight people were charged after the JCF’s Anti-Lottery Scam Unit, assisted by the Specialized Operations Branch, searched several Glendevon, St James premises about 4 a.m. on Thursday, July 23. Police seized lead sheets, debit cards, cellular phones, a high-end vehicle and arrested US citizens Natalie Baker, 21, of Rochester, New York, and Cruzer Marie Hardin, 18, of Georgia. Glendevon residents Chrislan Muschett, 19; Tiana Slowly, 27; Romario Cunningham, 29; Kemar Grant, 27; Giovanni Cunningham, 21; and Romaine Salmon, 22, were also held. Hardin faces an access-device possession charge, while the others were charged with possessing identity information under the Law Reform (Fraudulent Transactions) (Special Provisions) Act. Court dates are pending.

INDECOM is investigating Friday’s fatal police shooting on St John’s Road in Spanish Town, St Catherine. The unidentified deceased is believed to be Teja Adrian Thomas, also called Siva, of 31 St John’s Road. Police said St Catherine North Crime Branch personnel visited about 4:15 p.m. after reports of armed men. Three men allegedly confronted them; two escaped and Thomas reportedly fired at officers, who returned fire. A handgun was recovered after the exchange. He died at Spanish Town Hospital.

PIOJ’s 2025 Economic and Social Survey Jamaica recorded 1,528 arrests for category-one crimes: murder, 481; shooting, 395; robbery, 231; and aggravated assault, 172. Reported murders fell 421.0 per cent to 675, shootings declined 30.8 per cent to 696 and rapes dropped 26.3 per cent to 325. Aggravated assaults rose 421.3 per cent to 465, robberies increased 8.5 per cent and break-ins climbed 17.0 per cent. St Andrew had 19.3 per cent of incidents, followed by St Catherine with 16 per cent and Kingston with 9.7 per cent, together representing 45 per cent. Hanover declined 36.6 per cent and Westmoreland 36 per cent, while Portland rose 27.5 per cent and Manchester 12 per cent. Arrest totals included 297 in St Andrew, 197 in St Catherine and a reported “100 and 75” for Kingston.

Among 5,859 victims, shootings accounted for 1,286, break-ins 1,195, larceny 983 and robbery 899. St Andrew recorded 1,263 victims, St Catherine 1,041 and Kingston 637, collectively 50.2 per cent.

In Parry Town, Ocho Rios, 18 people, including women, were detained during Friday raids. Police said target Roshain “Coco” Allen pointed a gun at officers and was fatally shot. A loaded firearm was recovered. Senior Superintendent Carlos Russell described Allen as a violence producer who was reporting on a murder charge. Three detainees face Dangerous Drugs Act charges; the others are being questioned about serious crimes.

INDECOM is also examining Friday’s shooting of Ryan Osbourne in Knoxwood, St Elizabeth. Police from a neighbouring division said gunfire met them at a house about 5:10 a.m. Osbourne was shot, taken to Black River Hospital and pronounced dead. An illegal firearm was seized. Police said he was wanted for several crimes in a neighbouring parish and had fled to St Elizabeth.

Police searched Troy, Trelawny, on Friday for suspects in Tuesday’s mob killing of Delroy Coke, who was beaten and stoned after being accused of raping and murdering 10-year-old Shanique Coke. One man is detained. Unknown people later burned Coke’s house and killed a dog in the yard. Authorities did not say whether Friday’s operation produced further arrests.