Stephanie Elliott, Gleaner WriterCLARENDON:
CONSTABLE CLAYTON Robinson attached to the Special Anti-Crime Task Force is now at the Kingston Public Hospital courtesy of a case of mistaken identity.
Constable Robinson, of Harris Street in May Pen, was allegedly shot and injured by a businessman in Western Park, May Pen, Clarendon, yesterday. The Constabulary Communication Network (CCN) liaison officer for Clarendon, Cornel Stewart, told The Sunday Gleaner that on Friday about 11:50 p.m. Constable Robinson and two women were travelling in his white Toyota Corolla station wagon when a tyre developed a puncture. He stopped, removed the tyre and went to have it repaired, leaving the women in the car.
While waiting, the women were held at gunpoint by a 16-year-old youth, but they subsequently fled. He was still by the motor vehicle when businessman Tyrone Dunkley, 37, of a May Pen address, was passing in his car with a male friend.
RESCUE GOES WRONG
On seeing the vehicle and the man, they stopped to enquire what had happened. Not satisfied with the responses given by the man, Dunkley reportedly became suspicious, got out of his vehicle, pulled his licensed firearm at the man, and with the assistance of his friend, searched the officer's car. A home-made handgun was found.
While this was taking place, Constable Robinson returned to his vehicle and Dunkley, upon seeing the constable, approached him. Constable Robinson identified himself by shouting 'Police', but Dunkley, believing the officer to be an accomplice of the man, reportedly hit Robinson across the face causing him to fall. Dunkley then fired three shots, hitting Constable Robinson in the right side of his face, left breast and left hand.
The officer was taken to the May Pen Hospital and then transferred to the Kingston Public Hospital. He was admitted in a stable but serious condition.
The man who was taken from the constable's car was handed over to the May Pen police and later identified himself as Omar 'Dishie' Wignal, of Bucks Common, Clarendon. He has been charged with illegal possession of a firearm.
Mr. Dunkley's gun has been confiscated and, along with Constable Robinson's firearm, has been sent to Kingston for ballistics tests. The May Pen police are investigating.
