Rytikal charged with illegal possession of firearm, ammunition

Dancehall artiste Rohan McFarlane, more popularly known as 'Rytikal', has been charged will illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

The charges stem from a January 28 arrest.

According to information released by the Jamaica Constabulary Force's (JCF) communications arm, a firearm and several rounds of ammunition were seized in Eight Miles, Bull Bay on Thursday. One man, who was not named at the time, was reportedly arrested in connection with the seizure.

Police later confirmed that the 25-year-old entertainment was the one taken into custody.

Reports from the Elletson Road Police are that about 11:30 a.m., lawmen were on patrol in the area when McFarlane was seen acting in a manner that aroused the police's suspicion. He was questioned, and his car searched, and a Taurus .380 pistol with twelve rounds of ammunition found. He was subsequently arrested and charged.

Rytikal, who is known for the singles, Cookie Jar and King Inna War, is the third deejay who has been charged with illegal possession of firearm in the last few months.

In December, entertainer Laden, whose real name is Okeefe Aarons, was sentenced to four years imprisonment for illegal possession of firearm and 18 months for illegal possession of ammunition. Both sentences are to run concurrently.

Dancehall artiste, Tommy Lee Sparta, whose real name is Leroy Russell, was also arrested in December after a special operation by the JCF. When the police conducted their search during that incident, a 9mm pistol containing an extended magazine with 18 rounds of ammunition was found in his waistband. He has been in police lock-up since.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com