ST ELIZABETH, Jamaica – The swift action of several police teams in St Elizabeth on Wednesday led to the arrest of a robbery suspect and the recovery of cash that was allegedly taken from a bar in Santa Cruz in the parish.

Reports are that about 2:15 am, a woman woke to strange sounds coming from a section of the premises. Shortly after, the door to her bedroom was reportedly kicked open by a man armed with a firearm.

The woman was reportedly ordered to open the bar. The gunman reportedly took an undetermined sum of cash and cigarettes from the establishment before escaping.

A report was made to the police and a coordinated operation was carried out by members of the Santa Cruz Mobile Patrol and the St Elizabeth Operational Support teams. The teams swooped in on the premises, where the suspect was seen.

The cash and cigarettes were also recovered. He was subsequently taken into custody.

Head of the St Elizabeth Police, Acting Superintendent Coleridge Minto, commended his team for their quick response.

“Officers often carry out extraordinary acts of service while on duty and it is

only right we recognise those efforts. It’s also important we show the public just how committed the officers working in their communities are,” said Minto.