CHAMPS MADNESS
9 students arrested; cops seize ganja, weapons
COREY ROBINSON, Observer staff reporter robinsonc@jamaicaobserver.com
Saturday, March 15, 2008



Island Special Constabulary Force cops search students entering the National Stadium yesterday for Day 3 of the GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships. Police said they arrested and charged nine students with possession of offensive weapons and marijuana. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

Police yesterday reported that a total of nine students were arrested and charged with possession of offensive weapons and marijuana on the penultimate day of the 2008 GraceKennedy/ISSA Boys' and Girls' Athletics Championships.

At the same time, the cops were kept busy as students heading to the championships engaged in a number of violent clashes in Half-Way-Tree.

Six of the nine persons arrested were held in Half-Way-Tree by the Half-Way-Tree Police, while the others were nabbed by officers at the National Stadium.

The police also reported that they seized a total of 12 offensive weapons and an undetermined quantity of marijuana.

It was not immediately clear how many weapons were seized at the entrance to the stadium, but according to ground commander, Senior Superintendent Ray Palmer, the figure was less than 20.

"I guess with the increased warnings issued through the radio, and the culture that we have developed over the last couple of years, persons have started to understand that these things are not permitted in the venue and have left them behind," Palmer told the Observer.

Head of the St Andrew Central Police Division, Senior Superintendent George Quallo, said the cops were also called to quell a number of flare-ups between students in the Clock Tower Plaza area.

"Most of the weapons we seized yesterday were actually from that area," said Quallo. "We received reports of some fights in the plaza, but when the police accosted the children they ran off and left the weapons behind."

He added that his officers had their hands full yesterday as a number of students were detained and their parents informed about their misconduct.

At the stadium, apart from a few minor altercations between security guards and undisciplined students at the entrance to the venue, the proceedings went smoothly.

Persons were searched and approximately three boxes filled with confiscated tail c****s, toothbrushes, scissors, lighters, pens and other contraband were seen at the stadium gates.
Flag sticks longer than a foot littered the sidewalks as they were not permitted into the venue by the security guards.

The smooth running at the search area was, however, disrupted at one point as supporters waiting to enter the venue turned their attention to two Calabar supporters being whisked off in handcuffs by police.

The two were charged with selling marijuana and possession of offensive weapons after being interrogated and searched in the guardroom of the National Stadium Police Station.

But while the two detainees managed to steal the attention of the anxious crowd, another scene was created when two other Calabar supporters openly expressed their dissatisfaction after their tickets were confiscated by a police inspector.

"Them take away we ticket and seh we can't go inside because we a nuh schoolers and we must go pay the adult fee," one man who identified himself as Mickel Lindsay and who was dressed in a tight khaki pants and sported cornrows, told the Observer.

The police inspector was later embarra**ed when it was revealed that there was only one standard fee for all spectators for the day.

The ticket stands were sold out yesterday afternoon as majority of the spectators purchased tickets early for today's final day.