Gareth Davis, Gleaner WriterPORT ANTONIO:
REPUTED CRIME boss, 53-year-old Charlie Junior, also called 'King of the Woods' who is wanted for murder and several gun-related crimes, was captured yesterday by the Millbank Police in Portland.
Junior has been eluding the police for more than 15 years, while creating fear in the hearts of residents at Millbank and in the adjoining parish of St. Thomas the police say.
Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) liaison officer for Portland, Debbie Ellis said that Mr. Junior was captured during an early morning operation carried out by the Millbank police yesterday.
She said that Mr. Junior has had the Millbank community and adjoining areas under siege and at his will.
RESIDENTS TIGHT-LIPPED
Mrs. Ellis said that even when the police were combing Millbank, residents remained tight-lipped as to the whereabouts of the wanted man as they were fearful that he would elude the police and unleash more terror on them.
"He has been committing a series of rapes and abductions for more than 15 years," said Mrs. Ellis. "He has managed to elude the police for a long time as the terrain which he occupied is a rugged one, and poses a problem for the police to adequately carry out searches. He is known also to have resided in the jungles of Millbank which stretches all the way to St. Thomas".
Detectives from the Criminal Investigative Branch (CIB) in Port Antonio said that Mr. Junior managed to elude them during a raid in 2004, at which time they also recovered 43 rounds of assorted ammunition along with three home-made shotguns, which were
discovered in a hut occupied by him.
At the time of his capture, 'King of the Woods' was found with a large hunting knife, a pouch and a dagger, and according to the police, he also pleaded for his life.
Mr. Junior is being held at the Port Antonio Station lock-up and has been charged with abduction and rape, murder, illegal possession of firearm, dating back to 2004.
