A random Police stop search operation conducted last evening in the Duff Bottom area led to the recovery of another illegal firearm and the arrest of a Sea Cows Bay man.

Officers of Operation Crackdown stopped a Chevrolet Cavalier rental vehicle around 10:30pm on Saturday evening and in the presence of its sole occupant, searched the vehicle. A loaded pistol in the center console of the vehicle was confiscated.

Driver of the vehicle, Danny Pemberton, 28, pleaded not guilty to possession of an unlicensed .380 pistol, eight rounds of ammunition and eight grams of cannabis when he appeared before Magistrate Chairmaine Rosan –Bunburry on Monday.

He pleaded guilty to possession of .9 grams of cannabis wrapped in a cigarette wrapper, which was removed from his back pants pocket. He was granted $70,000 bail signed with one surety after Senior Crown Counsel, Tiffany Scatliffe told the Court that the Crown has no objections to bail.

According to prosecution, Pemberton was the sole occupant when members of the Crack Down Unit approached and searched the vehicle, which was parked at the side of the road. Attorney-at-Law, Stephen Daniels represented Pemberton. Daniels told the court that his client is currently employed as a construction worker on the Central Administration Complex.

Another firearm was recovered from a vehicle less than a month ago on Waterfront Drive in a similar operation. The driver was charged and is now serving a 15-month sentence.

Superintendent of Police Richard Holder noted that since January, the police have be actively engaged in stop searches. He stated that “the times and places of these operations will invariably change, but every effort to remove firearms from our streets will be made”.

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