Stephanie Elliott, Gleaner Writer
MAY PEN, Clarendon:
THE PROFESSIONAL Standards Branch of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has launched an investigation into the circumstances under which a female special corporal was allegedly assaulted in a fracas with policemen from the Area Three Flying Squad in Mandeville.
The woman corporal has been identified as Carmen Lewin, attached to the Island Special Constabulary Force in Clarendon.
Constabulary Communications Network (CCN) liaison officer in Clarendon Constable Odain Mulgrave said the plainclothes policemen were assisting the Clarendon police as part of an initiative to tackle crime in the town.
He said about 5:45 p.m. last Friday, December 2, two plainclothes policemen were on foot patrol in May Pen in the vicinity of the clocktower. They reportedly saw a man acting suspiciously and approached him for a search. A home-made firearm and two live rounds of ammunition were reportedly found on his person.
BOISTEROUS BEHAVIOUR
According to the CCN liaison officer, the policemen then took the man in their custody and were making their way to the May Pen Police Station when the accused man began behaving boisterously.
It was at this point that they were apprehended by Corporal Lewin. The CCN liaison officer said that Corporal Lewin was on her way home in her private motor vehicle when she saw what was taking place. Thinking it to be a civilian dispute, Ms. Lewin reportedly stopped her vehicle, came out and identified herself as a policewoman. She then demanded that the man be turned over to her. The plainclothes officers reportedly identified themselves to her and outlined what had transpired earlier. Corporal Lewin, however, was unconvinced that they were indeed police men.
She again demanded to have the man turned over to her, offering to take him to the police station. She was reprimanded by the lawmen and a tussle ensued between her and the plainclothes policemen for custody of the accused man. The men later gained control of the situation.
The accused man was taken to the station and arrested and charged for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Corporal Lewin subsequently accused the plainclothes policemen of having physically assaulted her during the tussle.
