Crime

OPERATION PURSUIT -Restaurants and Bars ordered closed

Published

12 months ago

June 9, 2023

#TurksandCaicos, June 9, 2023 – FIVE Restaurants and Bars in Providenciales were yesterday evening (June 07^th) served with Closure Notices after public health officials swooped down on their premises and found expired items used in the preparation of food.

Additionally, nine persons were apprehended and taken to the Detention Center for processing, and a number of prohibited items were confiscated.

At 6:40 p.m.the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force in collaboration with the Immigration Enforcement Unit, Customs Department, Environmental Health Department, and the Revenue Control Unit, arrived at a Liquor License premises along the Millennium Highway.

While at this location, it was observed that several persons were working Contrary to their Work Permits. A warning was issued, and two individuals – male and female were apprehended.

The Officers also conducted a search at a bar located in Kew Town behind the Ball Park.

A total of seven individuals (four males and three females) were apprehended and taken to the Detention Center for Processing. At this location, a number of prohibited items were seized.

Overall, several restaurants and cafeterias were served notices to close for failure to comply with health regulations. A number of items used for cooking and mixing alcoholic drinks were seized:

The items included:

Expired/dented: Carnation evaporated milk – 63 cans
Expired: Bluebird orange juice – 10 bottles
60 lbs. of raw and cooked meat (chicken and pork) – held at improper temperatures
20 lbs. of raw meat (fish, beef, and pork) – held at improper temperatures

The Environmental Health Department Closure Notice Ordinance states:

Failure to comply with this closure notice may result in one or more of the following as outlined in the Food & Drug Ordinance 2016, Part III (Sections 31 & 32).

A person who commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of $10,000 (ten thousand dollars) or to a term of imprisonment for 12 (twelve) months or both.

If a person is convicted of an offence under this ordinance the court may on conviction, and on an application by or on behalf of the Chief Environmental Health Officer (Director) order that any license the person holds to operate such a business be suspended for a period specified in the order, or revoked.

These collaborative activities form part of “Operation Pursuit”.

Operation Pursuit involves a Multi-Agency operational framework, designed to locate, identify, and process persons engaged in ALL illegal activities within the TCI. These operations entail a collaborative effort from all our essential partners at the re-established Turks Caicos Islands Joint Law Enforcement Group (J-LEG).

Release: RTCIPF

Crime

Police shooting leaves 14-year-old boy dead; Father speaks out

Published

15 hours ago

May 21, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

Wilkie Arthur

Freelance Court Correspondent

#TurksandCaicos, May 21, 2024 – The grieving father and community members in Dock Yard, long before official confirmation, informed Magnetic Media that the individual shot and killed by the police in Snake Hill, off Millennium Highway, Blue Hills, Providenciales, was “ToTo,” officially known as 14-year-old ANTORENS DORCELY.

Permission was granted by the father to disclose the child’s name as he is deceased.

After reports of the shooting and robbery on the night of Tuesday, May 14th, 2024, Medical professionals on the scene confirmed to Magnetic Media that a young male was fatally shot by the police. While initially believed to be between 15 or 16 years old, further investigation revealed that 14-year-old Toto had not been seen or heard from since the night of the incident.

According to the first official press release from TCI Police; they were fired upon in a marked police vehicle and returned fire at a reported stolen car, resulting in the death of an individual.

Over the following days, police issued two additional statements regarding the fatal shooting. One statement mentioned two separate robbery reports in the Blue Hills vicinity on the same night.

This reporter received a voice note from a woman claiming to have been robbed of her car and valuables by two gunmen around the same time the boy was killed by authorities.

Police mentioned in one of their statements that multiple individuals fled the scene that night, but they did not mention recovering a firearm.

Videos obtained by Magnetic Media showed a small orange car with bullet holes and shattered windows, while no damage was observed on any police vehicles.

The father, although acknowledging his son’s involvement in crime, expressed disbelief that his son would shoot at the police, tearfully stating that he didn’t believe the police had to kill his son.

Community members disclosed that Toto turned to crime to support himself and his younger brother after their mother’s death. Residents expressed a desire for the surviving brother to be relocated to a better environment and offered support to ensure his well-being and education.

Toto and his surviving brother, said to be 11 years old were born in the Turks and Caicos, and their tragic circumstances raise questions about the use of lethal force.

Magnetic Media conducted an extensive investigation, including interviews with the deceased boy’s father and community members. There were visits to the shooting scene at Snake Hill, and examination of the alleged stolen orange car, which is now impounded at the police compound.

Crime

Male Charged with Robbery

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – Detectives of the Serious Crime Unit of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force have charged a man who allegedly stole a vehicle.

The accused, DANVANTE BRISCO, 30, of Kew Town, Providenciales, was charged with:

One Count: Robbery
One Count: Taking Motor Vehicle Without Authority
One Count: Using Offensive Weapon to cause fear

Mr. BRISCO appeared in court today (May 13 ) and was granted bail of $7500.00 with one surety.

The matter was adjourned to July 05 for a Sufficiency Hearing.

Crime

Dock Yard Male Charged

Published

1 week ago

May 13, 2024

Deandrea Hamilton

#TurksandCaicos, May 13, 2024 – A 20-year-old Dock Yard male appeared in court today (May 13th) charged with a series of firearm-related offences.

The accused, JAMES SIMON, was denied bail and remanded into custody pending a Sufficiency Hearing scheduled for July 05^th, 2024.

Mr. SIMON faces the following charges: 

One Count: Robbery;
One Count: Gang Membership
One Count: Possession of a Firearm for the Benefit of a Gang
One Count: Possession of Ammunition for the Benefit of a Gang.

The charges against Mr. Simon followed investigations by officers of the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force into a robbery at the parking lot of a Casino where three males robbed a victim.

Additionally, Mr. Simon is charged with the following offences, having been arrested on May 02^nd, 2024, along South Dock Road.