Tonight a Police Constable is in jail on remand and three others are on suspension – all alleged to be parts of the police crime ring which was exposed on Thursday by the Commissioner of Police and The Prime Minister. They held a press conference to make the explosive revelation, explaining that the crime ring had masterminded a string of brazen armed robberies. The revelation was the product of a sting operation conducted on Wednesday night in which the young man who was intercepted by police supposedly going to rob Chon Saan Restaurant. He then told police he had been set up by Constable Jermaine Mangar. In the presence of police he allegedly called Mangar and told him to come and pick up the proceeds of the robbery. Police claim Mangar did that and that’s when they say he was caught with $600.00 dollars in marked bills.
Today the man who was allegedly caught in the sting 25 year old Detective Constable Jermaine Mangar was charged along with Jermaine Palacio for conspiracy to commit robbery and attempted robbery. Who is Palacio? Well according to our reports, he is one of the men who were going to commit the robbery. So today alleged criminal and the accused constable were jointly charged. Our cameras were there when Detective Constable Mangar was transported to court this morning.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Despite the insults hurled from a crowd outside the court house – Detective Constable Jermaine Mangar seemed composed this morning at the Magistrate’s Court. According to his common law wife Cassie Usher, DC Mangar was set up.
Cassie Usher, Common Law Wife of Accused Cop
“My husband was falsely accused of all the robberies that happened
recently and we found out, according to my husband we found out and they framed him and he was set up. We found out from a person that the person is dealing with the senior officers to set up my husband to these crimes. We have witnesses that will prove him not guilty.”
Keith Swift,
“You said he was framed but he was the one when he got the call, went to the house on Baymen Avenue to get the money.”
Cassie Usher,
“That’s right, he was framed.”
Keith Swift,
“What money was going to collect then?”
Cassie Usher,
“I don’t know.”
Cassie Usher says what she does know is that her husband has received commendations from the Commissioner of Police and in his 7 years with the department he has performed admirably.
Keith Swift,
“Why are you so sure he is innocent?”
Cassie Usher,
“Because if you check my husband’s personnel file from the department, he has been in the department 7 years and he has no bad record at all. If you can see, these are one of the commendations from Mr. Jeffries himself for a job well done and it is not just one, there is more than one and he has a clean profile.”
Keith Swift,
“Let’s just say they set up your husband, why did they choose him over all the other police officers?”
Cassie Usher,
“Because he was set up. Probably they have something against him, I don’t know. We are going to prove them wrong because we have an alibi and we have witnesses that will prove him not guilty. I will do anything and I will be here to support him fully.”.
Both Mangar and Palacio pleaded not guilty to the charges. No bail was offered because the attempted robbery was allegedly committed with a firearm. They were both remanded to prison until May 6th. Police Press Officer Sergeant Fitzroy Yearwood says that while no other officer has been charged for direct involvement in the crime ring – 3 other officers have been placed on interdiction pending further investigations.
