Mark Beckford, Staff Reporter

Monday's capture of alleged Stone Crusher gang boss, Eldon Calvert, in Wood Grove, near Wait-A-Bit, Trelawny, has again highlighted a developing trend among feared and hardened criminals who seek refuge and reside in quiet, unsuspecting rural communities. The police are alerting residents to be on the lookout for these men.

"This is a trend that we have witnessed generally and we are [warning] the public that they should be on the lookout for strange people in their neck of the woods, and feel comfortable to report the presence of these strange men to the police," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Derrick Cochrane of the National Intelligence Bureau told The Gleaner yesterday. "They can do so either by calling 119, 811 or contacting any other police who they trust to pass on the information."

SSP Cochrane said the wanted men seek refuge in these communities when they are pressured by the police.

"We have seen when the police intensify their operations in hot spots, criminal elements tend to be displaced - and most times not in urban settings. The trend is that they tend to be displaced into deep rural settings."

Criminal network

SSP Cochrane added that these persons are accommodated by either their cronies in the underworld or by family members.

"The criminal network across Jamaica is very wide because sometime the link or the nexus is formed when they are in prison or in jail. They form these friendships and bonds and somebody far afield in Portland might find friends in Westmoreland because they made friends in prison or in jail."

The SSP said residents should not be "fooled" as these criminals lead quiet, low-key lives in order to avoid detection.

He also revealed that rural police across the island have stepped up their patrols and interaction with residents.

"We don't want any safe haven for these criminals, so we continue to dominate their space. And they tend to be vulnerable when they are outside their natural habitat."

mark.beckford@gleanerjm.com

Criminals captured or killed in the countryside

Donovan Bennett, leader of the Spanish Town-based Klansman gang - killed in police shoot-out in Rock River, Clarendon

Joel Andem, leader of the 'Gideon Warriors' based in rural St. Andrew, - arrested in Clarksonville, St. Ann.

Kevin Tyndale of the 'Gideon Warriors' - arrested in Black shop in deep rural St. James

Michael Forbes, former leader of the Montego Bay-based Stone Crusher gang - killed in police shoot-out in Huddersfield, St. Mary.

Rohan Stennett, member of Stone Crusher gang - killed in shoot-out with police in Dover district, Annotto Bay, St. Mary.

Marvin Tucker, leader of Marvin Tucker gang - arrested in rural St. James.