Police this afternoon took two AK47s and more than 100 live rounds of ammunition off the streets and out of the hands of criminals but the incident has left a bad taste in the mouth of residents on George Street. Residents say more than a dozen officers descended on their neighborhood with big guns and bad attitudes. Senior Superintendent of Plice Chester Williams led the operation and says he gave the orders. Here’s both sides of the story: from Chester Williams and from Kimberly Flowers – a resident of George Street.
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams,
“Police received information about an abandoned house in the George Street area that may have some firearms hidden inside. As a result of that a party of police officers visited the area and conducted a search. The search resulted in the discovery of 2 AK47s of 7.62 caliber and some ammunition. To be exact, 103 rounds of 7.62 ammunition which are compatible to the said firearms.”
Kimberly Flowers, George Street Resident
“They said they found some gun in that house around there. That doesn’t have anything to do with we because we live over here, we don’t live over there. What is over there is for over there and what is here is for here so we don’t know nothing which is happening.”
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams,
“Subsequent to that we also received some information about another house in the area which may have also had firearms and the police went o conduct a search of that premises and upon getting there, they were informed by the owner that she will not open the door for them to enter to search. As a result of that I ordered my officers to force the door open so they could give entry to go and search the house.”
Kimberly Flowers,
“They came in, stomped down the gate, broke it down, and then they started to knock on the door and so we told them we weren’t going to open the door. So we said we were not going to make the mistake again and let them in. So afterwards we told them we would open the gate whenever you (the media) comes. They didn’t want to listen to us. All they did was start to stomp down the gate and try to break it down. We are tired of this because every time someone dies from around here, they come and do the same thing over and over.”
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams,
“I instructed my officers to force the door open to gain entry. We must sound it loud and clear to those who want to be involved in criminal activities and always want to show some form or resistance to the police that the police have a job to do and we must do our job. We will not be turned away by people who refuse to allow the police to enter their homes to conduct searches when we are there to conduct a search for whatever reason.”
Keith Swift,
But sir when you searched that house did you find anything?
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams,
“No we did not find anything inside the house. Unfortunately we did not find anything inside the house.”
Keith Swift,
So those people’s door was kicked down for no reason.
Sr. Supt. Chester Williams,
“Well the owner of that house could have avoided all that. If she knew that her house was clean, then why have the officers waiting outside for about ten to fifteen minutes and refusing to open the door. She could have avoided all that.”
Kimberly Flowers,
“We are tired of that, we are tired of this because every time somebody from George Street dies, that is what they come and do. Nobody is looking to retaliate. We are never doing anything, its always other people, but anytime anything happens – it is George Street like we are some dogs. Everything is George Street, George Street, George Street and no one else.”
As Williams noted no guns were found Kimberly Flowers’ home. As for the Aks seized, no one was found in the home so no one was charged.
