Three murder charges for alleged contract killer

A Kingston man who police investigators believe committed nearly a dozen killings was yesterday hit with three murder charges along with a slew of shooting and gun-possession charges.

And according to Superinten-dent Michael Phipps, who heads the Major Investigation Task Force (MIT), those charges could be the tip of the iceberg for 22-year-old Ryan 'Little Blacks' Bembridge.

Phipps revealed that Bembridge is being investigated by the MIT in connection with five more murders, and said he expects that he will face additional charges, including murder, in other police divisions.

"He has been fingered in several contract killings. He is not affiliated to any of the major gangs in the West Kingston area, but he has no qualms about committing contract killings for them," Phipps asserted.

"He has been identified as one of top violence producers in the West Kingston (Police) Division," added Phipps.

Following a question-and-answer session with his attorney on the weekend, detectives from the MIT charged Bembridge with the murders of Mark Reid, Garell Bravo and Ricardo Stewart.

Higgler murdered

The police say Reid, a 31-year-old higgler, was shot dead at the intersection of Bread Lane and Charles Street earlier this year. A 53-year-old shopkeeper was also injured in the attack.

He was also charged with the shooting of several persons, including a 14-year-old, who were injured during the killings.

Phipps said Little Blacks, who was listed several times among the police most wanted, was nabbed in Westmoreland last week, where he had gone to elude capture.