Police leash Dog Paw's cronies - Second in command still at large

 Arthur Hall and Livern Barrett, Gleaner Writers

The police yesterday had some success in tracking down suspected members of the infamous Dog Paw Gang following the arrest of its leader on Monday.

Police investigators yesterday reported the capture of the man believed to be the gang's main accountant, along with several other men listed as foot soldiers in the criminal network. However, efforts to capture the gang's second in command were unsuccessful.

Following the capture of the alleged gang leader, Christopher 'Dog Paw' Linton, the police went in search of his lieutenants believed to be hiding in the Elletson Flats, Mona Commons and Tavern sections of St Andrew.

A 48-hour curfew was imposed on the area, with a massive police-military team deployed to conduct house-to-house searches.

A Jamaica Public Service Company team was also deployed to the area to cut down illegal power connections.

Success in red hills

But, despite the massive security operation around the community where Dog Paw had been held, the major success for the day came far away in the upscale Red Hills, St Andrew, community of Kirkland Heights/Sterling Castle.

There, the police held Nicholas Nesbeth, otherwise called 'Fire Key', who is believed to be the financial mastermind behind the Dog Paw Gang.

Nesbeth is to be questioned by detectives this week in the company of his lawyers.

Senior police sources later told The Gleaner that while Nesbeth was a valuable catch, the man they really want is Micah 'Mico' Allen, who is believed to be the second in command of the gang.

"He is the cold-blooded killer, and everybody knows that we have to take him into custody to really disrupt the operations of the gang," one policeman told The Gleaner.

The lawman, who requested that his name be withheld, said the police were aware that once Allen remained on the loose, there could be reprisal attacks over the arrest of Dog Paw.

Allen is known to frequent the areas of Kintyre, Papine, Dallas Castle, August Town and Elletson Flats.

The Dog Paw Gang first came to the attention of the police for its involvement in illegal sand mining and extortion in the August Town, Kintyre and Tavern sections of St Andrew.

Dangerous organisation

But the gang quickly developed into a dangerous, heavily armed organisation responsible for several murders and shootings.

In the latest incident linked to the gang, three family members, including a child, were killed in what police say was a reprisal for the murder of a man who had switched his allegiance to Dog Paw.

Deputy Superintendent Michael Phipps, the crime officer for Area Four, revealed yesterday that several attorneys have contacted the police on Linton's behalf.

Phipps said the gang leader, who has been accused of murder, shooting and extortion, is being housed in a "secure facility" and will not be questioned until his legal representation is settled.

He also noted that two women who were taken into custody with Linton could face charges of harbouring a fugitive after they are interviewed by police investigators.