Klansman Trial: Through the Eyes of A Detective

Countering Transnational Organized Crime (CTOC) detective, turned police witness for the prosecution in the One Don Klansman Trial on Thursday, December 10 gave snapshots of a few incidents and intelligence operations he was part of at different times in 2019.  

He outlined his dramatic encounters with some defendants:

A hooded figure, with a gun in hand, peered from behind a building, seemingly observing men who were sitting by a wall. A party was in session at the intersection of martin street and Manchester Street in St Catherine. Looking on was a Detective Sargent from CTOC working that night to prevent a Klansman shooting spree. Driving away from the hooded figure, he heard gunshot-like explosions in the distance. This is one snapshot of a few incidents as told by that same detective, now a police witness for the prosecution. 

The police witness continued to outline the events of January 25, 2019. Acting on intelligence provided by the second witness, the detective was heading to Martin Street. Speeding toward him was a Brown Axio which ended up in Port Henderson, Portmore. The police witness drove into the aftermath of what is said to have been a shootout between gang members and police, where two gangsters were shot. He recalled that one was lying face down in nearby bushes, the other slumped in the front seat of the car that was riddled with bullet holes.

Jumping ahead to June 28, 2019, the prosecution led the witness to detail the arrest of defendant Fabian Jonson also called ‘Crocks’, who was pointed out by the second witness while driving along Easton Street. As he was being whisked away, Johnson explained that he was an entertainer who “parred” with the likes of I-Octane. By then a crowd of men started to gather and hurled insults at the officers calling them “Tesha Miller Police” and shouted “Andre Bryan for life”. When brought into custody Johnson asked to telephone “Big Ooman Steph” (Stephanie Christie), who spoke with a detective.

The arrest of Stephanie christie took place on the morning of June 30 that same year as she was making preparations for the ordination of her husband. She was in a churchyard in the Nightville District of St Thomas, where other people were setting up for the event. As she was being arrested by the witness and a fellow officer, she begged them not to take her into custody, showing them the flowers, she was pruning. When told she was suspected to be involved in a gang she responded ” me? Which gang?”

In court on Thursday, the police witness Identified Defendant Jermaine Robinson.

Court resumes on Monday at 10 am

Reporter: Jhanielle Powell