Suspended Police Officer attached to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Joseph Tillock has been denied bail on charges of being in possession of illegal guns and ammunition.

Tillock who is from La Tante, St. David's was charged with two counts of Possession of Firearm, two counts of Possession of Ammunition, and Housebreaking and Stealing.

A police source said that Tillock is also being investigated in connection with the disappearance of a quantity of cocaine that the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) had confiscated late last year from a passenger attempting to board a plane bound for the United Kingdom.

The Police Constable made his first court appearance Tuesday before Chief Magistrate Patricia Mark. His legal Counsel, Derek Sylvester made an application for bail but it was opposed by Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Nelson and denied by the Chief Magistrate.

Tillock was remanded to the Richmond Hill Prison until February 13, when he is due to make his next court appearance. Police insiders told this newspaper that Tillock became a suspect when the locker of a Sergeant of Police was broken into and his service revolver stolen at the Grenville Police Station. "We heard that he was around and a decision was taken to search his place", he remarked.

According to the official, the search resulted in the recovery of the stolen gun under Tillock's bed at the CID in St. George's. He was allegedly in the process of trying to get someone to smuggle the gun out of CID when the officer swooped down.

The search party then decided to inspect the Constable's Locker when another weapon was allegedly found there. It is said to bear the same description and serial number as the missing gun from CID in St. George's.

An official statement issued by the police force said that at the time of his arrest, Tillock was attached to the C.I.D. in St. George's. According to the release, the suspended police officer was first detained on Thursday (January 19) and formally arrested and charged on (Saturday) January 21. It said: "The house breaking and stealing charges are linked to the unauthorized removal of items from the Police exhibit storage room in August of 2005 and the disappearance of a service revolver from the Grenville Police Station.

"In August of 2005 a quantity of Cocaine, monies and two firearms were stolen from the exhibit storage room. "Officers of the C.I.D. are continuing their investigations and other drug related charges could be filed against Tillock.

"Tillock was enlisted in the Royal Grenada Police Force on the 5th October 1998 and his two recent postings were at the Grenville Police Station and the C.I.D. in St. George's. He is a Constable of Police. "The Office of the Commissioner of Police has ordered the immediate suspension of Tillock pending the outcome of the legal proceedings", it added.

Acting Commissioner of Police, Winston James has instructed the Officers handling the Tillock investigation to be thorough and decisive with the matter. "This matter has seriously compromised the integrity of the Force, and the arrest of someone within our Ranks makes it even worse", he said. "That's why it is imperative that we handle this professionally and ensure that all involved are brought to justice", he added.

Speculation is rife that Sylvester was representing Tillock on behalf of another Attorney-at-Law, Peter David who was at the Grenada Trade Centre participating in the 2006 Budget Debate.
When contacted, David said he heard that some people were trying to contact him in the matter but he will not be able to get involved since some of the items allegedly stolen from the Police Exhibit room belong to one of his clients.