Crime and Courts
Five men charged in two separate cases have been remanded after pleading not guilty. Police say the weekend operations recovered two pistols and 21 rounds of ammunition.
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Five men are in custody following two separate police operations over the weekend that the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) says took two illegal firearms and 21 rounds of ammunition out of circulation.
Five men charged: Not-guilty pleas and bail denied
All five appeared before the Serious Offences Court, where each pleaded not guilty. Bail was denied in both matters, according to a police statement issued Monday.
Glock 19 case: Paul’s Avenue
Zane Dopwell, 38, a mechanic of Walvaroo, and Kyle Ragguette, 33, an entrepreneur of Long Wall, were jointly charged with possession of an illegal firearm and possession of ammunition.
Police allege the two men had a Glock 19 semi-automatic pistol and 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition in their possession at Paul’s Avenue on Saturday, September 26, without licenses issued under the Firearms Act. Their case was adjourned to October 5.
.380 pistol case: Kingstown
In the second matter, three men from Diamond were jointly charged with the same offenses: Tearon James, 29, a mechanic; Terrell McLean, 32, a tradesman; and Akeem Peniston, 32, a laborer.
Police allege the three had a Diamondback .380 semi-automatic pistol and six rounds of .380 ammunition in Kingstown on the same day, also without licenses under the Firearms Act. That case was adjourned to October 12.
Case one
- Accused
- Zane Dopwell, 38 (Walvaroo); Kyle Ragguette, 33 (Long Wall)
- Alleged items
- Glock 19 pistol, 15 rounds of 9mm
- Location and date
- Paul’s Avenue, Sept. 26
- Next court date
- October 5, 2026
Case two
- Accused
- Tearon James, 29; Terrell McLean, 32; Akeem Peniston, 32 (all of Diamond)
- Alleged items
- Diamondback .380 pistol, 6 rounds of .380
- Location and date
- Kingstown, Sept. 26
- Next court date
- October 12, 2026
Police appeal for information
In its statement, the RSVGPF said the arrests are part of ongoing efforts to find illegal guns, disrupt criminal activity and reduce gun violence in communities across the country.
Police noted that illegal firearms are often hidden in homes, vehicles and neighborhoods, out of immediate view, and that recovering a weapon frequently begins with a tip from the public. The force said public information, combined with intelligence work and operations, remains one of its most effective tools against gun crime.
Contact Police Control at 457-1211 or visit your nearest police station.
The charges described in this report are allegations. All five accused are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. Vincypowa News will follow these cases as they return to court.
Source: Read the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force press release.
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