Alleged two-time carjacker slapped with twelve charges

Mar 21, 2014 News

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–    Indicted for robbing former Asst. Commissioner, family

A 24-year-old mason who was arrested after opening fire at police ranks last Friday, now faces a total of twelve charges, including the home invasion of a former Assistant Police Commissioner and two armed carjackings.
Keron Cummings of ‘C’ Field Sophia, East Coast Demerara, is the man who was arrested last Friday after police ranks, who staked out a location at Seventh Street ‘C’ Field, Sophia, are believed to have prevented a robbery.
Ranks managed to track the suspect down and arrested him, despite him firing shots at them.

At the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Cummings was slapped with a total of 12 charges.
He faced five counts of armed robbery, two counts of attempting to commit a felony, a break and enter and larceny charge, a possession of firearm and ammunition, one count of threatening behaviour and another for discharging a loaded firearm.
According to Inspector Michael Grant, who prosecuted, the crimes in the city were conducted over a four-week period starting from the robbery on the family of former Assistant Commissioner of Police Clinton Conway on February 20.
However from December 31 to last Friday (March 14), Cummings is said to have stolen over $9M in cash and property from several victims.
Grant said that on February 20, he barged into the home of the former Assistant Commissioner, held him, his son and his daughter-in-law at gunpoint and managed to relieve them of over $500,000 in cash, jewellery and other items.
Later on March 5, Diamond Housing Scheme taxi driver Lionel Seenarine was reportedly approached by Cummings for a lift to Durban Backlands, in the city. The taxi driver accepted but upon arrival at the destination, the accused pointed a gun at his head and escaped with the man’s car.
Inspector Grant claimed that the same was repeated on March 10 when he approached taxi driver Colin Williams at the Stabroek Market Park requesting to be taken to Guyhoc Park.
Cummings, also upon arrival, brandished a gun and demanded the man’s valuables. He managed to relieve Williams of $3.1M in items, including his $2M car.
Prosecutor Grant specified that he would be prosecuted for those five armed robberies at the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court since they occurred in that magisterial district. Cummings pleaded not guilty to each charge.
Meanwhile, the other seven felonies were said to have been committed on the East Coast of Demerara and will engage the attention of Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrates’ Court on April 13.
According to Grant, on December 31, last year he broke into the home of Lauren Adams in ‘A’ Field Sophia and made off with a total of $2,671,500 in items. He noted that the woman had secured her home, only to return to a door which was evidently wrenched open and to discover the items missing.
On March 12, Cummings allegedly approached Garaland Benn, a Lamaha Springs resident, at her home, asking her for some water. When she refused, Grant related that he pulled out the gun and told the woman “Yuh gun see what gun happen to yuh. Ah gun shoot yuh.”
The Inspector indicated that in fear, the woman crawled into her house and called the police. However, he made off and the police who responded were unable to apprehend him. For that, he was slapped with a charge for threatening behaviour.
All the matters were reported to the police but they were unable to capture him until last Friday when he attempted to rob two persons in ‘C’ Field Sophia.
Grant related that about 10:40 hours, police ranks who received a ‘tip’, ventured to Seventh Street, Sophia, on a stake out. He said that during that stakeout they noticed Cummings walking behind Ezra Roberts and Shondell Marks on the street.
As he reached the two persons, he pulled out a gun from his pants waist and was about to hold onto the female when the policemen shouted “Don’t Move.”
The Inspector indicated that Cummings discharged two rounds in their direction and they returned fire, hitting Cummings, and causing him to fall into the trench.
The ranks reportedly went in after him and managed to recover a .38 revolver and three live rounds of ammunition.
Cummings was taken to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation where he was admitted as a patient under police guard. After being discharged, an identification parade was conducted where he was positively identified by all the victims. He was subsequently charged with the offences.
The seven charges which occurred on the East Coast were laid indictably and he was not required to plead.
He was remanded to prison.
Cummings is expected to return to the Georgetown Magistrates’ Court on April 22 for statements. He is also scheduled to appear before Magistrate Alex Moore at the Sparendaam Magistrate’s Court on April 13.

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