Members of the notorious St James-based 'Stone Crusher' gang, have been seeking refuge in St Catherine com-munities, THE STAR has learnt.

The Montego Bay gang was in 2006 fingered as a major criminal network, involved in a spate of heinous murders, several of which were alleged to be linked to a deadly lottery scam in the Second City.

Commanding Officer for the St Catherine North Police, Superintendent Harry Daley, who has been temporarily re-assigned, revealed that in recent months, thugs affiliated with the infamous gang have been migrating to the parish.

"Our intelligence have led us to the finding that members of the gang have been taking refuge here," Superintendent Daley said.

He said communities in Old Harbour and Spanish Town are major choices for the thugs as they try to evade the attention of police in St James.

STAR investigations have confirmed what the senior cop said.

Residents have expressed the need to worry by claiming that the situation may bring unwanted attention to their communities.

"Di man dem come from MoBay and deh bout di place a chill out an a nuh nuttin fi dem start bad again ... So wi haffi a hope seh dem nuh bring nuh trouble inna our zone yu see it," one Spanish Town resident said.

"It bad enough seh wi have whole heap a gunman dung ya so ... Based pon wah we hear di crusher dem a some vicious yute dem, so if push come to shove yu know seh police nuh deh too far," one resident of Old Harbour explained.

Earlier this month, Denmar 'Blue' Woodhouse, 16, of Bullet Lane in Kitson Town, St Catherine, was shot dead by gunmen. The teenager was alleged to be a member of Stone Crusher gang.

Three men, aged 22, 25 and 28, were also injured in that incident and were hospitalised under police guard for questioning in relation to several crimes committed in Norwood, St James, and in St Catherine.

"One of them shot at the police recently," said Superintendent Daley.

Head of the St James police, Superintendent Steve McGregor, said there has not been any gang activity from 'stone crushers' in his division recently and it is quite possible they could be branching out.