The Tribune

By LAMECH JOHNSON

Tribune Staff Reporter

ljohnson@tribunemedia.net

NEARLY five years after escaping detention at a police station by swapping places with his son, being helped by a policeman, and avoiding arrest for four months, convicted drug dealer Melvin Maycock Sr was found guilty of the crime yesterday in Magistrate’s Court.

The 45-year-old, of West Bay Street, stood before Magistrate Derence Rolle-Davis with his co-accused, 29-year-old Melvin Maycock Jr, and 43-year-old Troy Lewis when the Magistrate found all three men guilty for their parts in the February 28, 2008 escape.

Maycock Jr, of Joan’s Heights, and Lewis, of Pinewood Gardens faced a charge of aiding in the

escape of a prisoner while Maycock Sr faced a charge of escaping lawful custody.

It was claimed that the son and the former police Sergeant aided the escape of Melvin Maycock, Sr, who was in lawful custody at Elizabeth Estates police station.

On the day in question, Maycock Sr had been arrested and put in a cell at the station. However, when officers returned later that day, the son was discovered in the cell instead of Maycock Sr.

Maycock Sr, whose escape was not mentioned until a week later as a result of a “leak”, was not captured until four months later when on June 20, he was intercepted by police on John F Kennedy Drive and West Ridge following a high speed chase.

All three men had denied their respective charges from the time of arraignment up to yesterday’s proceedings.

However, their denial of involvement in the switch scheme was not believed by Magistrate Rolle-Davis who convicted all three.

The magistrate deferred sentencing to February 20 when their lawyers, Tonique Lewis, Roger Gomez II, and Ian Cargill, will deliver mitigation pleas on their behalf.