Newsmakers: Mayor ‘mysteriously’ chopped; ‘Thick Man’ killed by cops

This week's overall featured developments as Newsmaker of the Week are two significant incidents that peaked public interest nationally, which are the mysterious wounding of St Ann’s Bay Mayor Michael Belnavis, and the fatal shooting of Othniel 'Thick Man' Lobban, a reputed leader of the One Order gang, which led to unrest and widespread disruption in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The machete attack on Belnavis, who is also Chairman of the St Ann Municipal Corporation (SAMC), sent tongues wagging across the country, especially on the north coast for days, even as Lobban's killing dominated news headlines in mid-week.

The deafening silence of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) on the attack on Belnavis, a public official, has led to even further speculation being peddled in the public domain, some of which are unfit for publication.

On Monday night, Belnavis was reportedly at a property of his in St Mary, and sustained injuries that were later described as being non-life-threatening.

Interestingly, the mayor was initially released from hospital on Monday night, but was subsequently re-admitted after feeling discomfort on Tuesday afternoon.

He was discharged from hospital for a second time on Thursday, and was said to be resting at home. A photograph was also being circulated in the media on Thursday, showing Belnavis heavily bandaged to the head.

Reports stated that a person of interest has been hospitalised under police guard in relation to the matter. He reportedly has a gunshot wound, but remains silent on who shot him and how he sustained the wound.

Michael Belnavis

Some media reports claimed that the man broke into an unoccupied property owned by Belnavis, and was watching television when the mayor arrived told him to leave. The two then became involved in a dispute, with Belnavis being chopped, and the man being shot.

But none of those reports have been confirmed or denied officially by the police, including whether the now hospitalised man is mentally ill.

Reports said after being injured, the mayor drove himself to the hospital. Who took the injured man, who some reports said was mentally ill, to the hospital, remains a mystery, as also other aspects of the matter.

Local journalists tried without success to get further and accurate details from both the St Ann and St Mary police, but silence remained. The usual "investigations are ongoing" statements were provided.

In fact, head of the St Mary police, Acting Superintendent Anthony Wallace, told reporters that the Police High Command would he issuing a statement on the matter. But up to the weekend, no such statement has been issued.

The governing Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in a release last week, said the mayor was attacked by an "unknown assailant" at his residence on Monday.

The release said the mayor and his family are thankful for the outpouring of support and good wishes.

On Wednesday, the Opposition People’s National Party (PNP), in a statement to the media, called for the JCF to make a public statement on the investigation into the incident "to assure the public that a thorough and impartial investigation is being conducted".

"This violent act is completely unacceptable and highlights the ongoing need for decisive action to address crime in our country," said Jouvaughnie Byfield, Junior Opposition Spokesperson on Security and Defence, and PNP Councillor for the Gayle Division in Western St Mary.

While the matter remains a virtual mystery, social media users have reacted to the case, as well as the police's silence on the case.

"This story is very strange and full of puzzles. And why have the police not issued a statement all now?" a woman asked on Facebook.

"This sounds very fishy on the JCF part... Why all the secrecy behind this particular case?" asked a man.

"The mayor is a public official and every Jamaican got the right to enquire what really took place and why all the hush, hush," he added.

"The JCF is so quick to provide details on other criminal matters, but can't give us the public not even an ounce of details on this? This is disturbing, and the JCF actions are bias when it comes on to politicians," a woman claimed.

In relation to the PNP's statement on the Belnavis case, a man said the parliamentary Opposition was being insensitive.

"The PNP as a political institution needs to be mindful of balance, equality and hypocrisy if they want the public to take them serious. Irrespective of the circumstances (in which) that this man got injured, if he choose to refrain from engaging the police, it’s his right so to do," the man wrote.

Said another man: "Oh Lord, the Opposition believes they should know (about the Belnavis matter)  before everybody else. Wait bro, even tho I find the situation a bit awkward, but it's not out of concern why you (are) asking."

In response, a man asserted that, "The police needs to release a statement.

"This is an attack on an elected Government official," he said.

The fatal shooting of Othniel 'Thick Man' Lobban and unrest in Spanish Town

In a separate incident, Othniel ‘Thick Man’ Lobban, a reputed leader of the One Order gang, was fatally shot by police personnel during a high-speed chase in Six Miles, St Andrew on Wednesday night.

His killing came hours after residents and the police clashed in Ellerslie Pen as law enforcers tried to apprehend a person of interest identified as Roneil Hope, alias 'Ron'. The police later imposed a curfew on that community, as well as Tawes Meadows, to curtail the violence. Both areas were frequented by Lobban.

The reputed One Order gangster met his demise at the overhead bridge at Six Miles, which leads onto Washington Boulevard in St Andrew, after a police chase.

According to reports, police signalled the driver of a Toyota Rav4 to stop, but the driver ignored the order, prompting a high-speed chase. During the pursuit, the Rav4 crashed into a Toyota Prado. The Rav4 driver reportedly exited the vehicle and opened fire at the police. Officers returned fire, fatally wounding the gunman, later identified as Lobban.

The police described Lobban as one of the top five most wanted individuals by the Joint Anti-Gang Task Force, stressing his role in orchestrating violent activities and organised crime across St Catherine, the Corporate Area and other parishes.

But some residents disagreed with the police, describing him as a community leader who looked out for their welfare by providing money and food and even fixing roadways in some communities in Spanish Town.

The killing of Lobban sparked widespread unrest in Spanish Town, with some residents blocking roadways as early as Thursday morning, lighting fires, and clashing with the security forces.

Businesses, including banks, were forced to close, and the Jamaica Urban Transit Company Limited (JUTC) altered its routes due to safety concerns.

The Courts Bargain Centre in the town was also damaged by a fire that was suspected to have been caused by hoodlums, and reports surfaced of loud and continuous explosions as gunmen allegedly challenged the security forces between Wednesday night and the early hours of Thursday morning.

Dennis Robotham, President of the St Catherine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said businesses lost millions in revenue due to the flare-up of violence.

"There is a general fallout in business, and the members are depending on the security forces to address the situation urgently," said Robotham in media interviews on Thursday as Spanish Town reflected a virtual ghost town.

The court system was also impacted by the disruption. The Court Administration Division (CAD) announced that all matters scheduled for the Spanish Town and Old Harbour courthouses on Thursday, were postponed due to the state of emergency that was declared in the St Catherine South Police Division (and the unrest of Spanish Town).

St Catherine Circuit Court matters for Thursday were pushed to January 27.

On Thursday as well, several schools had to resort to the online modality due to fears about student and staff safety. Among the schools shuttered were St Jago High, Homestead Primary, Spanish Town High, Spanish Town Primary, Johnathan Grant High, and Eltham High.

The police maintained a strong presence in the area on Thursday and Friday, including monitoring areas that were under a curfew in Ellerslie Pen and Tawes Meadows.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) in charge of the Area 5 network, Christopher Phillips, told reporters on Thursday that, "Last night (Wednesday night) we had a few incidents where roads were blocked.

"There was an attempt to burn a few premises, but we were quick on location to put some control in the area," he added.

Head of the St Catherine North police, Superintendent Hopton Nicholson, sought to assure business owners on Thursday that the situation was under control, and that it should be business as usual in the days thereafter.

Superintendent Hopton Nicholson (file photo)

Nicholson said the security forces would maintain a strong presence in the market district and other areas of the town to ensure that there are no further flare-ups.

In response to the claims by residents about the good nature of Lobban, Phillips told reporters that the One Order enforcer was a notorious gangster.

"If St Catherine is now seen as the epicentre of crime, just imagine a network that Lobban has created over a period of time. He met his demise (on Wednesday) outside of this division and he is known to be connected to several other communities in and outside of St Catherine.

Acting Assistant Commissioner of Police, Christopher Phillips. (file photo

"He (Lobban) was one of the main targets for the Joint Anti-Gang Task Force, based on his involvement in various acts of criminal activities. He was a known strongman in this area and is (was) the local leader for the One Order gang," Phillips said.

By Friday, schools were given the greenlight to reopen, and some businesses reopened their doors for regular activities following the tensions that gripped the old capital the day before.

According to Nicholson, four of the seven persons of interest who law enforcers had urged to turn themselves in for questioning, were being interviewed by investigators. They include Roneil Hope, who had eluded law enforcers during Wednesday's standoff between residents and the police in Ellerslie Pen.

"The security forces' vigilance, coupled with community cooperation, has restored a sense of order to Spanish Town," declared Nicholson while speaking on Friday.

Member of Parliament (MP) for Central St Catherine, Olivia 'Babsy' Grange, also appealed to her constituents on Thursday, to maintain the peace in the area and not block the roadways.

Olivia 'Babsy' Grange (file photo)

When asked if she knew Lobban, Grange would only say that she does not interfere in police matters, and stated that "in communities, all types reside".

Asked by reporters if Lobban was a troublemaker in the community, Grange responded: "Not to my knowledge, but I cannot question the police in terms of what they may say, and I totally leave that up to the police."

But who was Othniel 'Thickman' Lobban?

Police intelligence suggests that Lobban was reportedly deeply involved in criminal activities, including shootings, extortion and enforcing gang dominance in various areas of St Catherine, such as Eltham Park, Jobs Lane, Cedar Valley and James Mountain, as well as sections of Mountain View Avenue in St Andrew.

He also had an alleged history of involvement in orchestrated killings, but it is unclear whether he had, in fact, been charged or convicted in relation to such allegations.

Among the multiple crimes Lobban was linked to are:

- The May 27, 2024 killing of Orville Reid on Wallen Avenue in Portmore, St Catherine.

- The July 26, 2023 fatal shooting of Anthony Harris (‘Tony Meng’) in Hill Run, Spanish Town.

- The 2023 murders of Andre Dixon (‘Rum Blacks’) and Ricardo Gardener (‘Jah Jah’) in Spanish Town.

In 2016, Lobban was arrested and charged for being part of a criminal organisation, but the case was subsequently dismissed.

He was also freed of charges in 2021 after a key eyewitness failed to appear for an identification parade.

Despite being released, Lobban remained a person of interest, and was being sought by the police.

Many Jamaicans welcomed the police's efforts in trying to return normalcy to Spanish Town, and commended them, too, for bringing an end to the reign of Lobban.

"According to the residents, this (Lobban) was another innocent law-abiding citizen who the police put to rest... I have to wonder if police salt so, fi always a get the good law-abiding citizens on them radar," a man wrote on social media.

"I can never hear a set of citizens or residents admitting to the ill wills of these men," he commented.

Said another man: "Maybe he's (Lobban) no angel, but he's certainly a victim of the wrongdoings of politicians who developed and nurtured the growth of these political garrisons in a time long before 'Thick Man' was born!"

Another Facebook user shared that, "Glad to see that the police are taking a very aggressive, bold and zealous approach to crime, and dealing with the criminals this year. 

"I commend the (police) commissioner and his team, as they are obviously adopting a new approach in order to bring about some order and tranquility in our towns and communities," the user said.

Said a woman: "The police getting better at doing their stuff; Lord keep them safe. Hope he (Lobban) rot in hell."

Meanwhile, a man said politicians must cut their ties to garrison communities once and for all.

"As long as the politicians endorse and stick by garrisons and dons, and negotiating with dons, places like Spanish Town ago forever erupt. Give the police the info, Mr politician man, to get rid of the gangsters once and fi all, fi good," the man opined.