Sizzla Arrested On Gun Charges

Dancehall and reggae music is in trouble as yet another one of its stars is doing battle with the law.  As previously reported Buju Banton was arrested December 10 after police say he conspired to buy more than five kilograms of cocaine from an undercover police officer and is currently fighting those charges.

Now adding his name to the list is Sizzla Kalonji.  Sizzla was arrested on Wednesday by Jamaica's St Andrew parish Central police following reports that gunshots were fired at a group of people at a river in August Town.

According to The Weekend Star, Crime chief for the division, Deputy Superintendent Derrick 'Cowboy' Knight, stated that the entertainer, born Miguel Orlando Collins, was taken into custody following the shooting incident.

"The incident occurred sometime around 8:15 P.M. and we responded and Sizzla was arrested about 15 minutes later," DSP Knight said before adding that Sizzla is in the process of being interrogated and his hands were also swabbed for gunpowder.

According to reports, people were gathering water when an armed man approached them and fired several shots in their direction. Although no one was injured, police reports from witnesses identified the reggae star as the shooter.

According to Knight, the reason behind the shooting may be that a number of areas in August Town are currently at odds.

"Well that is what happened based on the reports we have ... We are investigating but we know that a number of places like Judgement Yard, Goldsmith Villa and Hermitage have constant friction, so we are looking into that," Knight said.

This also isn't Sizzla's first arrest when it comes to pistol play.  In 2005, Sizzla was arrested and questioned after 13 high powered guns were dug up by police in the Judgement Yard section of August Town.

However no charges were filed after he denied any knowledge of the hardware and questioned for three days.

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