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US marshal won't blame J'cans for rise in South Florida violence
KARYL WALKER, Court/Crime co-ordinator [email protected]
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Deputy United States Marshal, Josh Bostley, yesterday refused to blame Jamaicans for a rise in gun violence in South Florida, and said other ethnic groups have also been committing serious offences.
Bostley spoke to the Observer after Florida-based US Marshals included Jamaican David James Clarke, who is accused of involvement in a double murder, on its list of 15 most wanted fugitives.
"There is a lot of violence in South Florida. A lot of Jamaicans live in Lauderhill and there is a lot of violence in Lauderhill, but I am not going to say Jamaicans are responsible for the rise. There are American blacks, whites, Haitians and others involved in violence," Bostley said.
Clarke, who goes by the aliases 'Bigs' or 'Big Boy', has been on the run since June last year. The US authorities accuse Clarke and two others - Clinton Dinnall and Anthony Bennett - of the brutal murder of Chris Thompson and Cassandra Williams at a home in Lauderhill.
The Florida police say witnesses told them that Williams begged for her life, saying she was the mother of a five-year-old son, before Clarke allegedly shot her dead. Williams had moments earlier witnessed Thompson's murder.
Clarke and his cronies reportedly stuffed the bodies in the truck of a car before abandoning the vehicle in the city of Sunrise.
Bennett and Dinnall were arrested a few weeks later and charged with first-degree murder, but Clarke is still on the run.
The US Marshals say Clarke, 26, has a history of violence and drug trafficking. They have placed a US$25,000 bounty on his head.
A release posted on the website http://www.usmarshals.gov said Clarke has hazel-brown eyes, medium-brown complexion, weighs about 210 pounds and is six feet tall. He normally wears a beard and is known to have worn locks.
KARYL WALKER, Court/Crime co-ordinator [email protected]
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Deputy United States Marshal, Josh Bostley, yesterday refused to blame Jamaicans for a rise in gun violence in South Florida, and said other ethnic groups have also been committing serious offences.
Bostley spoke to the Observer after Florida-based US Marshals included Jamaican David James Clarke, who is accused of involvement in a double murder, on its list of 15 most wanted fugitives.
"There is a lot of violence in South Florida. A lot of Jamaicans live in Lauderhill and there is a lot of violence in Lauderhill, but I am not going to say Jamaicans are responsible for the rise. There are American blacks, whites, Haitians and others involved in violence," Bostley said.
Clarke, who goes by the aliases 'Bigs' or 'Big Boy', has been on the run since June last year. The US authorities accuse Clarke and two others - Clinton Dinnall and Anthony Bennett - of the brutal murder of Chris Thompson and Cassandra Williams at a home in Lauderhill.
The Florida police say witnesses told them that Williams begged for her life, saying she was the mother of a five-year-old son, before Clarke allegedly shot her dead. Williams had moments earlier witnessed Thompson's murder.
Clarke and his cronies reportedly stuffed the bodies in the truck of a car before abandoning the vehicle in the city of Sunrise.
Bennett and Dinnall were arrested a few weeks later and charged with first-degree murder, but Clarke is still on the run.
The US Marshals say Clarke, 26, has a history of violence and drug trafficking. They have placed a US$25,000 bounty on his head.
A release posted on the website http://www.usmarshals.gov said Clarke has hazel-brown eyes, medium-brown complexion, weighs about 210 pounds and is six feet tall. He normally wears a beard and is known to have worn locks.
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