Laden Remains In Police Custody On Illegal Gun Charges

Embattled Dancehall artiste Laden is spending another weekend in police custody.

The “Time To Shine” deejay is currently in lock-up at the Black River police station after being arrested last month. He is yet to secure bail through his attorney-at-law in the St Elizabeth Resident Magistrate Court in Santa Cruz.

Laden is being charged with illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, breaching the Disaster Risk Management Act, and failing to stop on the request of the police.

According to police reports, about 10:40 pm Wednesday, law enforcement officers were in Cheapside, St Elizabeth, when they signalled the driver of a black Mercedes-Benz motor car to stop.

Laden, given name Okeefe Aarons, who was allegedly the driver of the vehicle, disobeyed the police’s order and sped off. The police gave chase.

During the chase, an object was observed being thrown from the sunroof of the vehicle.

When the police caught up with the vehicle, the occupants were arrested and taken back to the site where the object was witnessed being thrown from the car.

The area was searched, and a Hi-point 9mm pistol with a magazine containing one 9mm round of ammunition was discovered. Laden along with 21-year-old Saaion Ebanks and a 16-year-old boy were taken into custody, and subsequently charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

Laden shot to fame after becoming a top-10 finalist on Digicel Rising Starsin 2006. He is known for songs like “Gal Coward,” “Feelings Too Heavy,” “Never Lonely,” and “Time Is Now.”