Accused church killer Ruddock has had run-ins with law, says cop

Adrian Frater/News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

Andre Ruddock, who is charged with the murder of 39-year-old Taneka Gardner during the October 17 sacrificial ritual at the Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries in St James, has had previous run-ins with the law, but all for minor offences.

“He was arrested on several occasions, but mostly for street crimes,” a senior police officer told The Gleaner on Tuesday.

“He would have been arrested for offences like fighting, assault,” said the cop, who requested anonymity because he is not authorised to speak about the investigation.

Ruddock is to appear in the Home Circuit Court in Kingston on Wednesday.

He is charged with a count each of murder and of wounding with intent and is to appear via a voluntary bill of indictment proffered by Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn.

The lawman said that Ruddock is from the sometimes volatile King Street section of downtown Montego Bay and is the son of a teacher from a well-known school in the Second City.

According to reports, Ruddock slashed the throat of Gardner on the instruction of 39-year-old Pastor Kevin O. Smith. Michael Brown, another church member, was also murdered in the bizarre ceremony.

Kevon Plummer, an 18-year-old, was shot dead at the location after he allegedly attacked a police team.

Smith, who was expected to face murder and firearm charges, was killed in a crash in the vicinity of the Linstead Bypass in St Catherine on Monday.

Constable Orlando Irons also died from crash-related injuries.

Two other cops were hospitalised in critical condition.

Ruddock is said to be a graduate of Cambridge High School in rural St James and an ex-member of the Jamaica Defence Force. He reportedly became Smith’s personal bodyguard prior to the church moving from downtown Montego Bay to its current location at 114 Albion Road.

“He was a regular youth in the streets back in the days … . He was not a troublemaker, but he was not a fool ... . You mess with him and you get beaten to a frazzle,” said one of Ruddock’s former friends, who also requested anonymity. “Since him start to flex wid de pastor man, him did kinda leave the street and start to penetrate the church thing.”

Congregants of Pathways International have said that Ruddock was a loyal disciple of Smith, with one member calling him the pastor’s right-hand man.

adrian.frater@gleanerjm.com