The Gang Suppression Unit has been making all the bad cop news recently - as they've swooped down on neighborhoods with known gang connections.
This morning, it was a pre-dawn raid of houses in a yard on Plues Street - which is a block away from the seat of power for the George Street Gang.
We were called out there by members of the community around mid-morning - they said they'd had enough. Monica Bodden found out more:…
Monica Bodden Reporting
When we arrived on Plues street around 10 this morning - Police officers in camouflage uniforms, masks on their faces and assault rifles in their hands - lined the street in front of this yard.
They were conducting a search on a house at the back of the yard belonging to Elwin Lewis - a Rastafarian known to everyone as Bobo.
According to his neighbors the search started from 4 o'clock this morning - 5 and a half hours before we got there.
This one officer stood guard outside the gate of Bobo's residence while others searched his property Inside his house and music studio.
According to area residents, the officers were searching for ammunition and drugs.
Brian Acosta - known as screwchy - is seen here in only a pair of boxers and a t-shirt - he was cuffed and stood outside.
He too resides in the yard. At the door stood Bobo's girlfriend - known only to us as Olyvette - she too was in the mix of things.
In the end - Bobo, Olyvette and Acosta were escorted through the gate by 7 armed officers - both Bobo and Acosta in handcuffs - whiile Olyvette and Acosta - were still in their sleep-wear.
They were put in the pan of this police pickup truck - and taken away to the police station.
And after a 5 hour search, Bobo said that all police found was a stick of weed.
The entire neighborhood was outraged at what had just played out for 5 long hours. As soon as the officers left, everyone stormed into the yard of Bobo to see the destruction - which they say is not a first.
Garbage was scattered across the entire yard. His music studio was completely destroyed. His house was ransacked as you can see the bathroom basin was ripped out of the wall. Chaos inside the small house…
Even the pipes outside were removed…the fitting for his light meter was ripped out the wall.
A neighbor who wishes to appear off camera - for her own safety - told us this is not the first time that they have been terrorized by the police. She believes it has gotten to the point where everyone has had enough.
Neighbor
"Well mammy from after 4 in the evening two police gang unit trucks came. They are out here from 4 o' clock searching in Bobo's yard and they have ski mask on with M4 like if any criminals live here. We know these guys are bad and thing but the police don't have to be like that. After those 4 hours went all they found is 1 stick of weed."
Monica Bodden
"Is this something that always happens around here?"
Neighbor
"This is something usual 'mammy' it's not the first time they are doing this. If you see what they have done to this man's yard, it's like a murderer lived here, like he is the baddest man on earth. The police should not be like that, they have him without clothes in the yard - for what? at least they should have let him put some clothes. A 'W' police was with them too and all of them have on mask. They didn't need any masks, what are they wearing masks for? Just because they want to chance the man and they don't want anyone to see their faces."
Monica Bodden
"I understand that they always come into Bobo's yard. They ever find any ammunition or anything?"
Neighbor
"Well 'mammy' for the longest they haven't find anything."
Monica Bodden
"No guns?"
Neighbor
"No guns or anything, no matter how many times they come to search."
Monica Bodden
"The most the police would find is what?"
Neighbor
"A stick of weed. The last time they charge him for a stem that was in a bottle of alcohol. That is what they charge him for, only bogus charges. Its only weed charges they will give him then. The big man Caliz came and he himself didn't find anything. But the police think they are slick because when they are hungry and they want a $10 or $15 in their pocket - it is right here that they come. I am not saying that George and Plues Streets don't have some bad people 'mammy' but they have to look on the positive too because look how they broke up the studio that these guys are making positive music to keep the young guys off the streets. It is the same police that make they get that mentality. If you continue to harass a man and he is not doing anything - you know what will happen? That will just irritate that young man's mind and make them do a lot of "simpleness" out here."
Elwin Lewis known as Bobo, and Olivette Pech were charged with possession of a single gramme of marijuana - which, indeed, is the only illegal thing found in the search.
But ASP Mark Vidal, head of the gang suppression unit told us that the search was not arbitrary and the force used was not excessive. He says they were after what's called a high value target - as the area is believed to be used for stashing weapons used by gangs.
Brian Acosta, referred to in the story as Screwchy, was the person of principal interest, and even though nothing was found, he is wanted on a commitment warrant, so his bail was confiscated and he was remanded.
As regards the use of masks, Vidal says that the unit must protect the identity of its officers to avoid reprisals and to make sure the officers not threatened.
