Cops ‘stoned’ during drug bust

| 09/02/2018 | 69 Comments

(CNS): Police were pelted with stones in West Bay yesterday and one officer was struck twice in the head and face during a drug operation carried out at a home in the Boatswain Bay area. Police, customs and agriculture officers raided a property where ganja was being cultivated. Several ganja plants were recovered but no arrests were made, police said. However, during the bust stones were thrown at the officers by unknown people nearby, causing minor damage to a police car and injuring the officer, who was taken to hospital and treated.

Deputy Commissioner Kurt Walton raised concerns about the attack on officers as they carried out their public duty.  “Such attacks against officers in the lawful execution of their duties threaten the safety of everyone. As police officers, our aim is to maintain public safety, and when we are attacked that safety comes under threat,” he said.

Investigations into the matter continue, police said.

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Category: Crime, Customs, Police

Comments (69)

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  1. Anonymous says:

    lol…so we now care more about this harmless, sweet smelling plant that God put on this planet for people to use for medical, pleasure and even education…why did the police not turn around and cut on foot to catch these ACTUAL criminals? Instead, they are more focused on potentially ruining a young life over a plant that has not been proven to harm anyone yet.

    Typical Cayman Islands.

    If this was the US or something, these man would’ve got pelted back at; but with hot, 9mm shells.

    Have a good Weekend!

  2. Anonymous says:

    Come on CNS…..as a loyal long time reader, the headline was a bit cheap. Chalk it up to Friday afternoon giddiness. Love your honest, objective journalism, but this is almost descending into clickbait. CNS has been a refreshing independent voice, but don’t go to the gutter with this.

    Anyway, got the number of commenters you wanted……sorry, a bit annoyed from my favorite hews source.

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    • Diogenes says:

      The headline describes exactly what happened

      It also happens to be a pun, not sure how this affects their objectivity as a news source but whatever you say, as for you finding the headline “cheap” the entire point of a headline is to generate interest
      That is exactly what this headline does

      Failing to see the problem here other than the hilarious thought of RCIPS officers high on the job and honestly would anyone be surprised if that was what was in this article

      We can argue about semantics all day, but this is really a non issue and a casual little article written (note the size) let’s not blow this out of proportion, don’t STONE CNS with criticisms
      Diogenes

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  3. Anonymous says:

    Leave the little weed man alone for exchange of information on the real crimes, such as guns, child abuse, murder, rape and road safety . Weed is here to stay like it on not. Lets put resources where they’re truly needed.

    Have a nice day!

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    • Anonymous says:

      Really, they have been doing this since the 80’s. East End raids, they stoned the cops/customs…nothing was done than, nothing done now…..

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    • Anonymous says:

      Guess what Einstein. Guns, child abuse, murder, rape etc. are here to stay as well. Weed and booze help make it all okay.
      Have a nice day. Don’t you worry. About a thing…

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      • Anonymous says:

        You got a problem with Ganja talk about your molly popping coke snorting drunk ass children first bobo

    • Anonymous says:

      Throwing stones at police and sending one to the hospital is real crime.

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  4. Anonymous says:

    This is sloppy CNS.
    Writing,”Cops stoned during drug bust” means that stones were thrown the police.
    Write, “Cops ‘stoned’ during drug bust and it means that they were high on drugs at the time of the bust.
    You didn’t write, “Two ‘arrested’ over gun after West Bay raid”.

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  5. Anon says:

    Even if this scum were caught. There is absolutely zero chance the courts would do anything about it.
    They can’t even lock up someone that knocks a police officer unconscious or even jail someone who damages a police officers private property..
    A tiny slap on the wrist in both cases
    Hence I now do another job !!!

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  6. Anonymous says:

    Easy targets for police as plants can’t run. The crackman runs like hell, throws hot lead instead of stones and still runs freely on these islands. They daren’t go after him that’s too much like work.

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  7. Anonymous says:

    Here we go again supporting the weed suppliers and missing the point of police officers being attacked by stone throwing idiots that drain government coffers. Unemployable, uneducated and have no desire to work cause they make more money selling to all the weed heads.

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  8. Anonymous says:

    If this was in the states, teeth would have hit the pavement hopefully with a justifiable shooting of one of the shit families member.

    Shit families know who they are don’t you shit family member?

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    • Wan says:

      Shit hole country?

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    • Diogenes says:

      The States’ long documented relationship with police violence and brutality is something we should be aspiring to?

      Law enforcement are meant to de-escalate the situation and apprehend offenders using only necessary force, something the US seems to have forgotten over the years

      Having rocks thrown at you does not justify shooting up a neighborhood, but sadly the US mindset of “shoot first, shoot second, shoot again and then just maybe ask some questions to whoever is still alive” has pervaded our society as well

      You can see it with all the crazy persons on Cayman who think the answer to crime is armed citizens with guns (because it works so well in the US right, crime free utopia)

      *insert comments from those who bemoan multiculturalism and cultural change*
      *Insert comments from the mindlessly nostalgic talking about how great Cayman was when everyone had outhouses and the mosquitoes could suck you dry*

      As for the “shit families”, I’m going to let your words speak for themselves.

      Let’s work to improve education, sadly it’s too late for persons like the author of this comment but maybe we can inoculate the upcoming generations from this mindless hatred and inability to share compassion and empathy with others

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      • Anonymous says:

        Diogenes, if you’d included in your post *inserted comments* that stoning the police is never acceptable, your valid point that ‘shoot first’ policing should also not be acceptable in Cayman would have carried more weight. – While you’re not wrong, you could be more right and maybe get your point across better. – Blessings.

        • Anonymous says:

          News flash, “shoot first” isn’t acceptable in the u.s. either. Ridiculous comment. The police in the u.s. make more than 10 million arrests every year. While police shootings are frequently reported as headline news, they are statistically extremely rare.

  9. Anonymous says:

    So the cops got hit with rocks, one had to go to the hospital. Clearly the cops were within a ‘stones throw’ of the hurlers but nobody got arrested…

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    • Anonymous says:

      Brand new radios are useless unless backup can be called and support summoned for operations. No tactical dispatch avail when it takes 45 mins to suit up and get in car from GT.

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  10. Caymanian facts says:

    Unfortunately this isn’t new, I the 80s amd 90s,when officers showed up at sessions this always happened.
    The problem is today that the punishment never fits the crime, you can assault police and becuase of distress get now jail time.
    The Cheif Justice need to go and we need a strong person to instruct our judges to give the maximum sentences.
    We should also unfortunately concider arming all our officers, maybe with none lethal weapons.
    The RCIPS officers should also not be put in the situation everytime they go out to an incident not fear when arresting someone they would be disciplined and or charged for using a little force. There’s nothing wrong with a little strong arming.

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    • Anonymous says:

      Don’t blame the judges. They almost never give maximum penalties because there’s almost always the possibility of a worse offence. Case in point, throwing rocks compared to someone shooting at police. So, if you want longer effective prison sentences then ask the politicians to increase the penalties in the Laws. While its not this simple a 25% increase in the maximum penalty in the Law will get a 25% increase in the actual jail term given. (Alternately ask the politicians to put minimum levels int he Laws, as was done with the firearms Law.)

  11. Anonymous says:

    after the dirt bike fiasco and the commisioners lame response….no one has respect for the police

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  12. Anonymous says:

    of course ‘there were no arrests’ with the Justice system declaring it open season to assault, knock out and injure police officers in a recent case, – unfortunately the precedent had been set.

    These ‘Beloved Islands are in serious trouble indeed. I apologize Mr Walton for being sorry but agreeable at the same time. Of course ‘such attacks threaten the safety of everyone’ especially if the offending pelters are given license by the attending officers following the completion of their collective bit of gardening being in retreat and the white flag raised. Where’s the support team ? Gather the pelters up, bang them away and get some convictions served if other more forceful measures aren’t the flavour. The tilt of the table favours lawlessness more and more, now entering dangerous when the Islands Finest are mocked then framed in the image of defeat.

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    • nauticalone says:

      You had me agreeing…until…”the islands finest”…or was that sarcasm?
      I’ve had to deal with some of these “finest” and many leave much to be desired!

  13. Anonymous says:

    Assaulting a police officer carries a term of four months. I received this term twice but during the second time I was just a cuck to the RCIPS.

    There are no ict laws in the land of the free.

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  14. West bay Premier says:

    This what happens when the Government Officials allows things to happen to Law Enforcement Officers without the appropriate punishment . Just like when your 12 year child curse at you , if the kid don’t get backhand in his mouth the first time, expect more to come in the future from the kid .
    But why didn’t the Police return bullets to those that was throwing the rocks . Or didn’t the Police have guns with them at the time .

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    • Anonymous says:

      If the police had shot and killed someone the comments would have been all about Jamaican police tactics and police brutality. They cannot win on this Island. you expect them to protect you while you and the courts put them down. Dat wa u get

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  15. Diogenes says:

    Read the headline and laughed for a good 3 minutes
    I thought this article was going somewhere else

    Hypocrisy in the RCIPS isn’t uncommon sadly not quite the “stoned” I was hoping for
    In any case, made for a good laugh

    Diogenes

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  16. Anonymous says:

    The law as it stands is Ganga is illegal . The police have a duty to in force the law as it stands. When they get stoned enforcing the law ( excuses the pun ) they get real stones throne at them WTF. All you need is a few well trained police attack dogs ,Let loose. And a couple bites to the legs & the ass will tame the wannabes. Arrest them and charge them assaulting a police officer.

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    • Anonymous says:

      It’s also illegal to jaywalk, but we don’t ever hear about jaywalking operations do we? It would be pretty stupid am I right? Well guess what.. this is stupid. Don’t care if it’s against the law, it’s dumb. Their plants.. end of story.

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  17. Anonymous says:

    Just let the police carry guns. This and many other problems would be solved.
    If you have read the news lately, you would see there is a portion of the population that do what they want, despite the law. Give them the choice: live by society’s laws, or show an armed law officer what you intend to do. Again, problem solved. When the tears stop flowing, no one will remember, and the world will be a better place.

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    • Beaumont Zodecloun says:

      I agree, with a caveat or two: A LEO carrying a firearm requires more than just training in the use of the weapon and training in situational awareness. A certain mindset is necessary that goes something like this: An armed officer has a much MUCH higher obligation toward calmness and to not be reactionary.

      Situation: A person is running toward an officer wielding a knife or machete, and is 30 feet away. The officer orders them to stop and drop. They continue. The officer should not endanger themselves; if there is time and they are so armed, a taser might be deployed.

      You almost have to be born into that mindset. It can be learned. It is much more that weapons training and safety.

      I too, believe that our police should be armed. Times have radically changed. Our officers are vulnerable. Around the world, police rarely have better weaponry than the bad guys/gals, but they often strive to be on at least even keel.

      How can we continue to send officers into dangerous situations without them being able to protect themselves? Would you do it?

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      • West bay Premier says:

        Beaumont Zodecloum , I completely agree with your comment , and I think that we should send your questions and suggestions to the Governor and Acting Governor , maybe they don’t see and know that yet .

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      • Anonymous says:

        And if they shot someone there would be the usual noise about Police brutality

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    • Shhhhhhhhhh. says:

      Too much of the “Softly softly” policing. When you use the same policy for ages and things get steadily worse, it is time to change tactics. How much longer?

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    • Anonymous says:

      If you threw a foreign object at a police officer in many other places ( intent to inflict grievous bodily harm), you could very well expect to be shot , the police would be within their rights doing so.

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    • E. Nygma says:

      Can we all be objective and agree with the FACTS:

      FACT: the vast majority of law enforcement in the US is armed
      even with that fact in mind remember, there is still an abundance of crime in the US

      FACT: Giving all law enforcement the means to apply deadly force does not prevent crime

      FACT: Police officers sometimes use deadly force when deadly force is not required because in the heat of the moment they are not thinking clearly

      FACT: The potential to encounter a gun wielding police officer in a society that allows all law enforcement to carry guns only means that criminals will themselves SEEK ARMS rather than giving up crime

      FACT: Guns are not the solution to crime, here or anywhere else in the world

      Please stop advocating for civilian gun ownership on a massive scale and please stop advocating for handing guns out to police officers in some misguided attempt to prevent crime when clearly it doesn’t work

      Neither of these things prevents crime and both will have negative impacts on the general public

      If you want some indication to how not to run a police force look at Jamaica
      one of the “deadliest police forces in the world” when you look at the amount of police shootings and deaths by population
      and there is still crime

      Don’t be dumb Caymanians educate yourselves on the issues instead of fear-mongering and panicking

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      • Anonymous says:

        Actually America has the world’s deadliest police force,especially for shooting and killing innocent people.

      • Anonymous says:

        @ E. Nygma

        If officers are armed with guns, they need to know how to use them and how to use discretion in such respects where a fire-arm MAY be needed.

        Too often now, in the U.S.A. you see a lot of ex-marines, ex-army veterans who are being recruited by local authorities to act as Police Officers. The major issue with this is that one cannot deny these individuals are traumatized as well as trigger-happy! They do NOT make good community police officers; these are men and women who have gone to WAR.

        In Cayman, we are always quick to follow the leader; i.e. the U.S.A.

        If Cayman wants to arm their officers, we will have many things to consider like the fact that we are NOT an American dependent territory but a British OT.

        Cops in the U.K. generally, are not armed with guns. This is major debate which is long over-due.

    • Anonymous says:

      5.47, whilst there are many good hard working officers, I would never wish too see some of the others carrying weapons. You just know it will end badly.

  18. Anonymous says:

    I think we are all missing the point of the article. It’s not about whether it is legal or not. Right now it is not.
    The point of the article is the attack and abuse the officers received for doing THEIR JOB. In other parts of the world there would have been some head thumping or shooting. Not that that’s what I am saying should have happened either. At some point respect, law, and order must prevail. Find these boys and lock m up. No bail. Can we do that for once. No bail.

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  19. Nonya says:

    Seriously? What happened to them going to solve murders, or arrest abusers, or even go searching for the Cocaine, heroin & pills that are killing people ?! Leave the ganja smokers alone. Cigarettes come with a label tell you it will kill you! And yet still the government allows them to be sold. Alcohol kills people! That’s also well promoted and sold! Be real! A lil herb ain’t hurt no one! Tons of those same police men & politicians are out here smoking ganja! Why y’all don’t check them!?
    Legalize the goods!

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  20. Anonymous says:

    They rather drug boats with guns

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  21. Anonymous says:

    Until laws change, you do the crime – you do the time. It should be clear to everyone in the narcotic or smuggling circles that this is how the game works. Find out the hard way if you have to.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That’s so right that’s why all these perverts get a slap on the wrist.

      Someone smuggled an animal they get away with a 200 fine

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  22. Anonymous says:

    I’m sorry but I don’t feel sorry for the police. As much as we now know of the many benefits of Cannabis and the little harm it actually does, to waste police resources on this is a complete and blatant disregard for common sense and a slap in the face to any intelligent person. Literally all our Police can do is have road blocks to issue tickets and chase down ganga smokers. I have yet to hear them crack down on any manufacturers of coke and we all know they make that shit locally! Jokes all around.

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    • West bay Premier says:

      Anonymous 4:39 pm , I completely understand your point of view. But we have to remember that “Drugs” are the problem. One start with ganga then proceed on to get into the wrong company of people, then into other heavier drugs and becomes gang member and doing the real crimes .
      Then this is where we need Law Enforcement to control all of these issues of crime in the society. I am sure that you’re not happy with all the shooting and killing, and robbing that is going on around you . The above is what is causing it . Not the Police , we need to help them an appreciate them .

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      • nauticalone says:

        Not so! I know many who smoke ganja and never hurt anyone or go on to use hard drugs.

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      • Diogenes says:

        So many misconceptions and it’s not surprising seeing who the author of this comment is,
        Cannabis is not a gateway drug and it has been shown time and time again
        Look at Portugal, Colorado, anywhere on the west coast of the US

        The gateway drugs in society are the opioids and opiates that people get prescribed by doctors for absolutely anything these days that are highly addictive and easily located

        yet I don’t see the “West Bay Premier” out fighting the real dangerous drugs that people are ODing on around the world
        you’re concerned about a plant no worse than alcohol or cigarettes (considering alcohol and cigarettes are some of the most deadly drugs in the world when it comes to related deaths)

        Anything to continue a pointless war on drugs, locking people up for addictions instead of getting them help and treatment

        I guess stupidity really is contagious
        Get the vaccine people

        Diogenes

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    • Anonymous says:

      4:39 pm, just hope that they get the right kind of cannabis, and our island will be a better place.

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  23. Anonymous says:

    Freemasons want their rights so does Rastas

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  24. Anonymous says:

    No Go Zone….

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  25. Charles Darwin says:

    Here we go again. Go to jail if you grow a plant that has internationally recognized medical benefits, but feel free to go to the designated smoking spot with your tobacco cigs laced with nicotine. Sigh.

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    • Anonymous says:

      The irony in this “drug bust” here is that the tobacco&nicotine that they allow to be smoked on public streets freely is a drug that is more addictive by weight that heroin.

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    • Anonymous says:

      That’s not the point. The police were doing their job and were attacked. It’s got nothing to do with the benefits of weed. It’s like saying a person gets pulled over for speeding and, whether he is or isn’t, attacks the cops. And it’s okay.

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      • Oreo says:

        The big question here is what will be done? Were the people arrested and charged? I think not, all other persons involved would be identified and you will be surprise who and how many are involved.

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      • nauticalone says:

        Significant difference is; speed kills and endangers other lives, whereas ganja does not. In fact there are many benefits to ganja.

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      • Entropy says:

        For all you know it could’ve been someone in poverty groeinf it to make ends meet. Sometimes the system doesn’t work for everyone. Attacking police is wrong I fully agree, but we humans tend to do some really stupid things while in desperation.

        All I’m saying is, that could be a job created instead of sending one of our own to jail for growing a natural, organic plant for the enjoyment of whoever wishes to partake, illegal or not.(because prohibition has failed, massively). Instead, we are allowing big overseas tobacco companies to make millions.

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