Armed gangs battle police on Kingston's streets

Jamaican authorities say they are putting Kingston and surrounding areas under a state of emergency as police fight armed gangs trying to stop the arrest of a reputed gang leader sought for possible extradition to the United States. Christopher "Dudus" Coke is wanted by US authorities on drug and arms trafficking charges.

A police officer and a civilian were wounded by gunfire in street clashes and three police stations came under attack in the city, police said on Sunday. One police station was set on fire after police abandoned it having run out of bullets, they added.

Prime Minister Bruce Golding held an emergency meeting with his cabinet on Sunday and issued a State of Emergency for Kingston and St. Andrew, set to take effect at 6pm (0900 AEST om Monday) in the Caribbean nation of about 2.8 million. The government said the state of emergency will last for at least a month.

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Crime Analysis Unit Helps Catch Armed Robber

A man suspected of being the “Red Striped Bandit” was arrested following a Monday armed robbery and is thought to be involved in a series of similar crimes stretching back to 2007, according to an affidavit released Tuesday by police in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Cedrick T. Beckwith, 26, of the 800 block of Georgia Avenue, faces a robbery with firearm charge in connection with the Monday evening incident at the Ramallah Food Market in the 3000 block of Orange Avenue.

The department’s crime analysis unit helped identify an apparent pattern of robberies and attempted robberies beginning in October 2007, Sgt. Dennis McWilliams said. The incidents occurred at either the same store or same type of store and at around the same time of evening in the fall or winter months. The suspect description also was generally consistent.

He wore a black jacket with red stripes, and police dubbed him the “Red Striped Bandit.” The pattern included four robberies and two attempted robberies.

About 7:30 p.m. Monday, a worker at the Ramallah market told police a man wearing a navy blue hooded sweater pointed a .38 caliber revolver at him and demanded money. The gunman hopped over the counter and took all the cash in the register, police said.

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