JAMAICA LABOUR Party (JLP) councillor for the Lawrence Tavern Division, John Myers, yesterday threatened to take legal action against a policeman he claimed severely beat him on Wednesday night.
However, the policeman implicated in the incident has denied assaulting the councillor.
According to Councillor Myers, the incident occurred while he was at a gas station.
It is alleged that Mr. Myers had earlier disobeyed a traffic signal.
He said he was at a gas station when a man claiming to be a policeman approached him and asked for his driver's licence.
Mr. Myers said he informed the policeman, who was dressed in plain clothes, that he did not have his licence with him at the time.
He said the policeman then attempted to handcuff him despite a willingness to drive his own motor vehicle to the nearest police station to ensure the safety of the vehicle.
Councillor Myers said it was at this point that the policeman proceeded to physically assault him.
But yesterday, Special Sergeant Steven Watson denied the councillor's claim.
"The only physical contact between myself and Mr. Myers was when I held onto him," he told The Gleaner.
The policeman said he was in a line of traffic along Oxford Road when he saw a motorist in a red Daihatsu Charade motor car overtaking several vehicles. He said the driver of the Charade, who turned out to be Mr. Myers, caused motorists travelling in the opposite direction to brake or swerve to avoid a collision.
"When the light changed, I went into the service station at Old Hope and Oxford roads where I saw the driver of the red Daihatsu Charade motor car. I identified myself and told him of the breach," Sergeant Watson said.
"He said I was a 'blue-seam' officer and I don't have any authority to ask him any questions," said Mr. Watson. "When I held onto him, he spun around and kicked me on my leg."
STRUGGLE ENSUED
Sergeant Watson said a struggle ensued and Mr. Myers ran, but was chased and held. The sergeant said he then called police control for assistance.
"A unit came and when he saw the vehicle, he said he had a heart problem. We offered to take him to the Kingston Public Hospital, but he requested to see a private doctor," said Mr. Watson.
The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) said Mr. Myers had lodged an official complaint and an investigation would soon commence.
