Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

Spanish Town:

Spanish Town, the scene of several major disrup-tions in recent years, was again in turmoil in the wee hours of yesterday morning.

Residents and police clashed in Dela Vega City after the lawmen went to investigate a report of excessive noise levels.

Superintendent of Police for St. Catherine North, Harry Daley, said the law officers received complaints about the noise levels emanating from a sound system operating in Dela Vega City. The police went and turned off the sound system at about 2:00 a.m., he said, and irate citizens responded almost immediately.

Superintendent Daley said residents blocked sections of Burke Road and nearby streets to show their displeasure. He said, however, that he is uncertain as to the sequence of events that followed. There were also no reports of injuries.

The residents told The Gleaner that they did indeed block the roads and that the police fired shots indiscriminately and set ablaze a number of stalls owned by vendors.

The police, the residents said, also burnt an area in 'Dallas' on March Pen Road, where ground provision is usually sold.

Full probe

"The police will be conducting a full probe into the matter and we are not dismissing anything including that the police would have acted illegally in carrying out the operation. If this is so then it will be dealt with, with due process," Superintendent Daley said.

Member of Parliament for the area, Sharon Hay-Webster, said yesterday she was in the troubled area from as early as 7:00 a.m. She told The Gleaner that an investigation must be carried out because the police fired several shots, burnt stalls and, in general, disrupted the livelihood of many.

"I am in contact with the Ministry of National Security and the commissioner of police and Mr. Daley has also visited, and I am pleased that an investigation will be conducted and we will also have discussion in Dela Vega City at 9:00 p.m. tomorrow (today)," the Member of Parliament said.

The Gleaner team saw lots of burnt ground provision, which according to residents, were set on fire by the police. They claimed that after the road was blocked, the lawmen fired several hundred rounds and created mayhem. They, however, agreed to keep the peace following a promise that a thorough investigation would be conducted.

The residents were also assured by Superintendent Daley that the investigators would not be drawn from St. Catherine North Division.