Men steal bikes from police station

Two men who allegedly steal motorcycles from a police station in the Corporate Area were remanded in custody when they appeared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court yesterday.

Matthew Black and Winston Samuels are charged with simple larceny, two counts of larceny of motor vehicle and breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act (DRMA).

The police report that on November 25 about 3:10 a.m., both men were seen on the compound of the Olympic Gardens Police Station pushing two motorbikes through the gate. The men were signalled to stop but they proceeded to remove the motor vehicles.

Black pleaded guilty to breaching the DRMA and not guilty to the other offences, while Samuels pleaded guilty to the larceny charges but not guilty to the DRMA charge.

After hearing the allegations, Senior Parish Judge Lori-Ann Cole-Montague condemned the men's actions.

"Sir, you went to the police station. That is what you call 'dry-eye', brazen, that is a wanton disregard. How could you do that? All the gunman out a road would say 'no man, this brother yah nuh normal.' [You stole] from the police station?" the judge chided.

Samuels alleged that he is employed as a gardener at the police station, but could not provide any identification to validate this.

He added that he is a patient of the Bellevue Hospital and gets his injections. As it relates to the DRMA, Samuels said he would be challenging the charge, as he has exemption.

Black was fined $200,000 or nine months'-imprisonment for breaching the DRMA. A fingerprint order was made and their criminal records were requested by the judge.

They were made the subject of a social-enquiry report and are expected to return to court on March 15 for sentencing.