One of the four suspects apprehended over illegal firearm possession during the Joint Services initiative, Operation Dragnet, was yesterday arraigned on two counts of armed robbery.
Andrew Davis-Hescott, 24, of Lot 6 West Ruimveldt Housing Scheme, was accused of robbing three people on Main Street on December 4th, while being in the company of others and armed with a gun.
In the first charge read, it was alleged that Davis-Hescott robbed Alicia Hinds of a BLU cellphone valued $26,000 and Elisabeth Williams of an HTC cellphone and handbag worth $62,000 in total. The second charge alleged that on that same day the defendant robbed Claude Blackmore of $120,000 cash.
Davis-Hescott, unrepresented at the hearing, pleaded not guilty to both charges.
According to the prosecution’s facts, On December 4th, Davis-Hescott, along with others, who were armed with guns, went into a Kissoon’s outlet and robbed the complainants of the articles mentioned in the charge. The suspects then reportedly made their escape in a Toyota car.
The next day, Davis-Hescott, along with three others were apprehended by police on Robb Street while being in possession of two firearms. The four were placed on an identification parade at the Grove Police Station, where Davis-Hescott was positively identified by Hinds as the perpetrator in the robbery. Further investigations in the matter are ongoing.
Bail was denied to the accused by Magistrate Annette Singh and Davis-Hescott was ordered to return to court on January 20th, for statements.
On December 8th, the defendant, along with three others, Aaron Eastman, Mark Anthony and Brian Hescott, were arraigned before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan on charges of unlicensed firearm and ammunition possession. On that date, all four defendants were denied bail, with the Magistrate citing public safety as a concern.
The four men had been apprehended on December 5th, at Robb Street, after citizens saw the group acting suspiciously and summoned the police. Eastman, a GDF officer, had been clothed in a hoodie and driving the vehicle the men were in at the time.
It was reported that when the vehicle, which was said to be fitted with “obscure number plates” was stopped and searched, a .32 revolver with matching rounds as well as a 12-gauge shotgun with matching cartridges were recovered under the front passenger seat and driver’s seat, respectively.
Yesterday, while Davis-Hescott was arraigned, Eastman, Anthony and Hescott also made an appearance before the city court, but before Chief Magistrate Ann McLennan for the continuation of the firearm and ammunition matter. That matter too has been adjourned to January 20th.
