Damion Mitchell, News Coordinator Radio
Sergeant O'neil Thompson, in charge of the Half-Way Tree Police Traffic Division, pleads with taxi operator, Leroy Berry, to leave his Nissan taxi mounted on a wrecker. This followed an incident in Half-Way Tree, St. Andrew where members of the Island Special Constabulary Force attempted to seize the vehicle. - Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
THE HUSBAND of the woman alleged to have been beaten by members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF) more than two months ago is now facing numerous charges and prosecution for a traffic-related offence.
Leroy Berry was arrested at the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St. Andrew yesterday, after locking himself in his Nissan taxi for more than three hours.
The saga reportedly began at the same gas station in Half-Way Tree where Margaret Berry is alleged to have been beaten by policemen who attempted to seize her husband's car in May.
According to Commander Fabian Farquharson of the ISCF, shortly after 10:30 a.m yesterday, he received a call for assistance with a motorist who was behaving in an "unruly" manner.
He said a team of ISCF and Transport Authority personnel had observed the same motorist, later identified as Mr. Berry, operating in contravention of the Road
Traffic Act.
According to Commander Farquharson, Mr. Berry is licensed to operate a hackney (chartered) taxi, but was observed operating as a route taxi along Constant
Spring Road.
Commander Farquharson further said Mr. Berry was stopped and, despite several requests for him to leave the vehicle, wound up his windows and refused.
HIT THREE OTHER VEHICLES
The ISCF commander also reported that Mr. Berry hit three other vehicles while attempting to drive his car away.
According to Commander Farquharson, the police decided to use a wrecker to transport Mr. Berry's car to the Half-Way Tree Police Station, but he insisted on remaining in the vehicle.
Commander Farquharson said that, while the vehicle was mounted on the wrecker, Mr. Berry started the engine and again attempted to drive off, damaging the
vehicle.
But Mr. Berry had a different story. He said he was just about to leave the intersection of Constant Spring Road and North Odeon Avenue, in response to a call for chartered taxi services, when a special sergeant approached him and ordered him out of his vehicle.
"Him back out him gun and draw the thing pon de top and mi hear click, click ... Mi 'fraid of them blue seam police ya ... " he told The Gleaner/Power 106 News from his Nissan taxi at the Half-Way Tree Police Station.
Almost three hours later, however, an exhausted Mr. Berry decided to leave the vehicle after the intervention of a regular police sergeant and other police
personnel.
The police said he would be charged with disorderly conduct, malicious destruction of property, disobeying police instructions and operating in contravention of the Road Traffic Act.
Mr. Berry has been on several other charges arising from the first incident more than a month ago. During that incident his wife was allegedly beaten after going to his defence while members of the ISCF were attempting to seize his car.
Days after that incident, Mr. Berry was shot while dropping off passengers in St. Catherine.
