police

The shock and grief of losing a family member found dead in the streets of Crooked Island is too much to bear for family and friends of Justin Williams.

“This is very shocking. It is unbelievable. [He was] a kind, gentle young man, well mannered and kind,” his aunt Doreen Gibson remembered.

A woman leaving the Fish Fry alerted authorities who found his body lying near Queen’s Highway, Landrail Point around 3:30 am. Further examinations determined that the 42-year-old had lacerations to his wrist and forehead.

Before he met his demise, Williams was making preparations to attend his wife’s funeral in Nassau and was visiting his parents, who live near where his body was found.

Though police have not officially determined that his death was a homicide and have since labelled it as “suspicious,” Gibson believed he was killed and is asking why would anyone want to harm him.

“The evil monster that took his life will be given their just reward.”

His cousin Tina Forbes wants answers too. “I want to know who kill my cousin. Who killed my cousin?”

Williams is believed to be a fisherman and resident of Long Cay which is nearby but occasionally visited Crooked Island.

Williams’ brother Jonathan is heartbroken.

“I can’t take this pain…My one and only brother.”

“Brother you have left me all alone. You have broken our hearts to pieces. I don’t believe that you are gone. This has to be a dream,” he cried.

“Who wanted my brother dead?” sister Sherika Lewis asked.

A friend of the victim Angela Moss remembered him as a “sweet soul.”

“Justin stayed smiling. He was always a nice guy,” she added.

Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death and will classify his death based in the conclusion of the investigation.

Friends and family are shocked after learning that the woman found shot to death in the canals in South Beach was 42-year-old Yinka Strachan.

Strachan was known in smaller circles, and friends are in utter disbelief.

“I’m in disbelief. My heart nor my mind is accepting this,” her friend Melani Doll expressed in shock as she tries to come to terms with Strachan’s death.

Since her discovery on Wednesday afternoon, police did not know her identity and were calling for family and friends to assist in naming the woman found partially submerged in waters with gunshot wounds to the upper body after a discovery by swimmers in the area.

When police officially identified her on Thursday, many took to social media to mourn the mother of four children.

“I am so hurt and sad to hear of the untimely death of my good friend and schoolmate. [There is] too much violence against women in the Bahamas. We must protect our women,” said Kyle Wilson who graduated with Strachan from RM Bailey Senior High School.

Two months ago Strachan joined Fusion Superplex as a supervisor and previously worked as a legal assistant and office coordinator at Dolphin Encounters before her death.

“I am a highly professional assistant with a comprehensive command of legal, office, administrative and clerical support functions combined with a knowledge of legal documents, court filings and legal procedures,” Strachan’s LinkedIn profile reads.

“I am dedicated, reliable, and able to handle a high volume of assignments.”

Gleanor Sawyer was Strachan’s childhood friend. “What gives anyone the right to take another’s life?” Sawyer asked.

She remembered her as a “wonderful [and] beautiful woman.”

Another friend Brenda Herrick said Strachan was “smart, talented, witty and kind.”

Coworker Ladarsia Royal mourned, “She was a rider and such a sweet person. I can’t believe she [has] gone like that.”

Ladarsia spoke to Strachan more than a week before her shocking death. “Last thing she said to me was ‘Sis I gonna leave. I’m tired.’” But it was unclear what she meant.

Authorities arrested a 34-year-old man on Thursday afternoon, but did not reveal his relation to Strachan. Neither did authorities reveal a motive for the crime.

A neighbor who wanted to remain anonymous said she was a “nice lady.”

“She took so much pride in her babies,” her friend Janell Dawkins remembered.

Strachan once taught at Progress Academy as a Special Education Teacher and was enrolled at Omega College where she studied Early Childhood Education.

What is known at this time

Following the dramatic viral video involving the arrest of a belligerent motorcyclist on Monday, Commissioner Paul Rolle awarded two police officers for their actions during a traffic stop.

Constable Tyrese Smith and Sargeant Travis Strachan were given the Commissioner’s Commendation Award and one thousand dollars for showing restraint and being their brother’s keeper.

The big story

Smith, who served two years on the police force, stopped a motorcyclist who was driving recklessly on Tonique Williams Darling Highway on Monday.

The motorcyclist struggled with the officer, pushing and hitting, as he worked to retrain him.

With a gun drawn, Strachan, who was offduty and served 12 years on the police force, ran through traffic to assist Smith in restraining the violent motorcyclist, as other motorists looked on.

What Commissioner Rolle said

Rolle said the video is indicative that police officers put their lives on the line every day to keep the public safe.

Rolle added that he was disappointed that motorists did not assist the officer as he struggled with the motorist, instead chose to record the event.

“This is not a movie. This is a real-life situation. I thought it was in poor taste to make a social event out of it,” he said.

A mobile patrol officer was attacked on Monday afternoon as he struggled to detain a motorcyclist.

The disturbing video circulating social media shows the police officer and the young man in a struggle as motorists tow the traffic line.

In the tense video, police and civilian bikes are strewn along a highway as the officer and the young man struggle in another lane of the street, in what appears to be a traffic stop.

As traffic is backed up and passersby watch the scene unfold, the young man becomes belligerent as he pushes and shouts at the officer.

The officer then tries to detain the man as he grabs him by the jacket.

Seeing the scuffle, a plainclothes officer emerges from the traffic, runs up the lane and onto the scene while armed with a firearm.

He points the gun at the young man, demanding that he adhere to the request of the detaining officer.

The young man surrenders and is restrained on the ground.

The big picture

In recent times, social media have become bombarded with anti-police sentiments and police said they have seen an increase in assaults on officers attempting to execute their duties.

Back in April, Commissioner of Police Ashton Greenslade said most cases on Grand Bahama were during routine traffic stops.

Greenslade said the RBPF warned that violators will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law.

“I want to address members of the public who seek to break the law. I warn you that my officers will not be complacent in the execution of their duties. Please be mindful that these officers are efficiently trained and will use necessary force to enforce the law,” he said.

Here are the videos:

Police are investigating the death of a 10-year-old boy, shot and killed on Thursday night on Finlayson and Bola Avenue, Bain Town.

What Police Say

• It was sometime after 9:00 pm, police were called to a shooting incident that occurred on Finlayson Street and Bola Avenue, Bain Town.
• Units responded and on the arrival of the officers, they were directed to a residence where an adult male and three juvenile males were found suffering from gunshot wounds.
• Emergency Medical Service was called and following their examinations one of the juveniles, the 10-year-old boy was pronounced dead.
• The three other victims were transported to the hospital in serious but stable condition.

The man found shot to death on Graham Drive in Yellow Elder Gardens Thursday morning, still has not been identified, but police are looking for the suspects in this homicide case.

What is known

• Citizens alerted police to the body after 7am, where the body lay through a track road.
• The man pronounced dead by EMS is believed to be in his 30’s.
• A vehicle was found parked near the body but police are unsure if it is the property of the victim.
• The body was found about 30 feet from the vehicle.
• The victim is believed to have been at the scene for nearly 12 hours.
• An image obtained by CSJ Report, shows the victim dressed in a white tee-shirt and long blue jeans pants, lying faceup with bullet holes piercing his upper body.

What police say about the crime-ridden area

Police spokesman ASP Audley Peters visited the scene and spoke to reporters:

• “Historically, this area has been used for criminal activity.”
• “In the past, we’ve had incidents that would’ve occurred in the back here. That’s why we encourage persons not to travel on track roads…This is an area that we don’t suggest individuals travel through. If you look at the terrain, anything notorious is liable to happen in areas such as this,” Peters said.

Police appeal

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to reach out to the Criminal Investigations Department at 502-9991/2.

“We also want to appeal to friends and family who may know of individuals who are in possession of illegal firearms to report them to the police because we are seeing an increase in the use of firearms as a result of altercations between individuals and they’re seeking to resolve the matters outside of the law,” Peters said.

“When persons have altercations, the best way to resolve things [is] to either find a mediator [or] step back and take a second look at what the argument is about, rather than resorting to violence and the use of edge tools or firearms,” he said.

The officers shot in Abaco today are said to be “in good spirits.” The two officers were shot when they responded to a domestic dispute.

What happened?

• Officers identified as Chief Superintendent Smith and Officer Lyndon responded to the domestic dispute in Pelican Shores.
• Upon arrival, they were accosted by a man believed to be involved in the dispute.
• The man then shot the two officers in the face and stomach.
• The officers drove to the clinic and were treated for their “non-life-threatening” injuries.
• The suspect was also shot and transported to the clinic where he is being treated.

Commissioner Paul Rolle and members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force performed community outreach on Thursday, providing masks and bottled water to the residents of Windsor Lane and the surrounding areas.

Accompanied by the media, Rolle and his team walked through the community, encouraging residents to wear masks and stay safe during the pandemic.

Residents were receptive and expressed thanks to Rolle for the gesture.

This comes after residents expressed frustration over the recent 7-day lockdown that took many by surprise.

After the order was implemented by Prime Minister Hubert Minnis on Tuesday, that area highlighted frustrated Bahamians who voiced their displeasure with the lockdown , with many saying they were not prepared with groceries and food items.

A rowdy crowd hurled bottles at police vehicles, when police patrolled the area during the upheaval.

When the media asked Rolle to respond to Tuesday’s incident, Rolle said today, “We are a nation that follows laws. I encourage everyone to abide by the laws. This pandemic is not just for the police. It is for everybody.

“Our message today is wear your mask, practice social distancing. We have to do our part to ensure everyone is safe.

“I have a duty to deal with civil unrest, wherever and whenever. We have a duty of care to make sure the people are safe,” Rolle said.