Lavaman

Soca artist, Marcus "Lavaman" Devenish is among six persons charged Monday by police for possession of an illegal firearm and ganja.

Lavaman who was a finalist in this year's soca monarch competition was arrested by members of the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) on the west coast while travelling in a Suzuki vehicle, registered #P2551.

Also caught in the police operation was the lone female occupant in the vehicle, Abigail La Crette, a 21 year old resident of River Road, St. George's. According to a police source, the incident occurred last Sunday and it was then that the illegal items were allegedly discovered by the lawmen. All six persons were charged by police for being in possession of an illegal firearm and a quantity of marijauna.

A police bulletin said that the vehicle was stopped at Gouyave after the six had left a party in Victoria, St. Mark's where a gun was allegedly fired off. The report said that the search of the vehicle netted a pistol with a spent shell in the chamber, and a quantity of drugs.

Apart from Lavaman, the other persons charged were Benjamin Mathew, a 32 year old resident of Jean Anglais, Marcus Devenish, 24 years of H.A Blaize Street, Damien Depradine, 23, a resident of H.A Blaize Street, Edmund Phillip, 28, of Green Street, and 27-year old Kelroy Joseph of River Road.

Lavaman, Phillip, Joseph, and La Crette have been placed on $8,000.00 bail each with one surety each. The soca artist competed in this year's Soca Monarch competition with his popular hit song, "Behave Yourself". During Tuesday's appearance before Magistrate Karen Noel at the Sauteurs Court, the police prosecution requested that bail should not be given to Benjamin and Devenish on the grounds that one of them was residing outside Grenada and that the other is on bail for another offence.

The lawmen argued that it was highly possible that if granted bail the two men will not turn up in court for hearing of the matter. The female magistrate ruled in favour of the prosecution which did not go down well with defense attorney, Arley Gill who is representing Depradine.

He said that the grounds put forward by the prosecution was rather tenuous, adding that the police did not have any good reason to remand the men in custody. According to Gill, the case was rather unfortunate in that the accused persons were basically at the wrong place at the wrong time and felt that the matter will be speedily resolved.

All six men are expected to make their second court appearance next week Tuesday. In other police related news, RGPF reported that investigations into a number of incidents within St. George's on Carnival Monday resulted in four persons being charged.

The arrested persons are Damien Depradine of H.A Blaize Street for Causing Grievous Harm, Micha Philbert, 18 year old resident of Belmont, St George"s for Maiming, Andy Williams, 45, of Independence Avenue for Wounding, and Douglas Morain, 40, of La Tante, St David"s for Causing Grievous Harm.

Police have issued a wanted notice for Herbs Mc Queen of Springs , St George's and Grand Anse resident known by the name of Shakim for questioning in connection with some of the chopping incidents.