By Brian Bonitto–
Associate Editor —
Tommy Lee Sparta—
TOMMY Lee Sparta is spending his second weekend behind bars at the Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay, St James.
His attorney, Ernest “Ernie” Smith, said he feels it’s a deliberate attempt by lawmen to keep the dancehall deejay in police lock-up, despite not being charged. The entertainer has been in custody since Tuesday, July 7.
“They [the police] told me the final session was this morning at 7:00 am. The question and answer took place…I was advised by the senior officer that: ‘That’s it! The police have no further interest in him’ and that he would be released today,” Smith told the Jamaica Observer last night.
“They are punishing Mr Russell without just cause,” he continued.
Leroy Russell is Tommy Lee Sparta’s given name.
Smith said his client had to be rushed to Cornwall Regional Hospital on Thursday due to vomiting.
“He was taken to the hospital for observation and, subsequently, discharged,” he said.
Earlier last week, Tommy Lee Sparta was requested to report to Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay in relation to the upsurge in violence in the Flanker community of St James. He was detained under the current state of public emergency (SOE) in St James.
Under the SOE, a person can be detained for up to 90 days without being charged.
Tommy Lee Sparta has had several brushes with the law.
He was listed as a person of interest by police in 2014 and 2017 for shooting incidents. He was, however, questioned and released.
In 2015 the Montego Bay police prevented him from performing on Reggae Sumfest for “fear of patrons’ safety”.
A former member of Vybz Kartel’s Portmore “Gaza” Empire, Tommy Lee Sparta got his musical break in 2012. He is known for songs including Spartan Soldier, Spartan Angel, Psycho and Rich Badness.
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