Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne has stamped his name in the minds of citizens of South Trinidad after making a huge breakthrough in the fight against crime there this week. Alleyne and his Crime Watch team ventured to Marabella after receiving confidential information about weapons and drugs. Alleyne forwarded the information to Sgt Ian Ribero and his Southern Division Task Force team.
Ribero and his men met Alleyne at Bayshore Road, in the squatting community along the old train line, and Alleyne gave the police the information he had. After searching a swampy area at the back of a house owned by a fisherman for almost an hour, police found a pigtail bucket with 1.3 kilograms of marijuana, with a street value of more than $300,000, a .357 magnum revolver and a .38 revolver. Another bucket with a grenade was found shortly after and bomb experts were called in.
Police subsequently arrested the fisherman, who claimed he did not know how the drugs and weapons came to be on his property. Police said he had previously been arrested on a drug possession charge along with two other men who are now dead. Alleyne also sent the warning at “watch how you flex when you flexing,” as he boldly called out a Coast Guard officer and an unknown man from Westmoorings who were providing the illegal items to the suspect.
In another case, Alleyne assisted a street vendor from Arima who was allegedly being “taxed” money by police in Arima. When he refused to pay because he did not have any money, the police allegedly told him to pack up and leave. When he moved across the road, the three policemen allegedly slammed him into a railing, handcuffed him and started sticking their hands into his pockets searching for money.
They found $1300 and medication he had for his kidney. They also took the clothes he was selling. The police then arrested him. On the way to the station, the vendor said, they allegedly told him if he spoke about the money and items they had taken they would send his medication to be tested to see if it was cocaine. He was charged and appeared in court, and the police allegedly threatened him.
Alleyne found this to be a grave injustice and put the man in touch with attorney Larry Lalla. Alleyne also this week aired footage of a bandit stealing more than $45,000 worth of equipment at Arima Old Road. He called on the public for information on the whereabouts of the suspect wanted in connection with the robbery.
The Crime Watch host is also investigating a case where John Thorne, 73, has gone missing. Thorne was not seen or heard from after leaving his Strobus Avenue, D’Abadie, home last week. He was heading to Enterprise, Chaguanas, to collect rent money at the time.
His family has been trying to make contact with him since then, but his cellphone is switched off. The family subsequently made a report at the Chaguanas Police Station, soon after leaving the station they saw Thorne’s vehicle in Chaguanas and took pictures of the vehicle and the man driving it. The vehicle is a gold Suzuki, licence number PCA 7240. Alleyne aired footage of an Afro-Trinidadian man entering the vehicle at an undisclosed location.
He has passed the information on to Sr Supt Johnny Abraham and asked Thorne’s family to liaise with Abraham as investigations continue. Suspects meanwhile broke into a home at 107 Main Road, Fanny Village, Point Fortin, and stole an undisclosed sum of money and jewelry. After the footage was aired the public began calling in with information about suspects. Alleyne is now seeking the public’s assistance in accurately identifying the men.
UNSOLVED
Seventy-nine-year-old Amy Gittens, who suffers from Alzheimer's, is missing. Anyone who may know Amy’s whereabouts is asked to contact Barbie at 776-6018, Yolande at 770-0875 or Ian Alleyne at 294-4081
BREAKTHROUGH
Alleyne was able to find Junior Matichakan, who has five warrants out for his arrest in connection with unpaid child maintenance, at his home. However, Matichakan told Ian, “I fixed my business after seeing myself on Crime Watch.”
