Jamaica Gleaner

Police under probe!

Disturbing case involving grade one boy, mother, takes twist

- Romario Scott Gleaner Writer

THE INCIDENT involving a sevenyear-old boy, who was the victim of an assault at his school in Trelawny, last week, and the subsequent arrest of his mother, sparking national outraged, has taken a twist.

The boy was reportedly held down by other students who inserted a piece of stick into his rectum. Initial reports of the incident suggest that personnel from the Clarks Town police arrested the mother because of “disrespect” shown in her attitude when she sought justice at the station for her seven-year old.

COURT’S INSTRUCTIO­NS

However, The Gleaner yesterday learnt that the instructio­ns to have the mother placed under arrest came from a nearby court after the behaviour of the mother caused a disturbanc­e while the court was in session, incensing the presiding judge.

But the police in question have not been let off the hook as the divisional commander is probing whether the Jamaica Constabula­ry Force (JCF) protocol was breached by the officer who was on duty for initially failing to take a statement from the mother, who was in distress at the time.

“When she went to the station, my understand­ing is that because she is a frequent customer there, in terms of making frequent reports at the police station, the policeman who was attending to her asked that she take a seat.

“The mother apparently got impatient and irate and used indecent language in the precincts of the police station and the sergeant,” Trewlany’s Divisional Commander Dwight Powell explained yesterday, adding that the mother was charged with disorderly conduct, and no statement was taken.

He admitted that the mother’s frequent visits to the police station should not have influenced the officer’s appreciati­on for the statement she wanted to make.

Powell said that if breach of the JCF protocol comes out in the probe, which is being conducted by a senior officer, then “appropriat­e actions will follow”.

 ??  ?? Superinten­dent of Police Dwight Powell
Superinten­dent of Police Dwight Powell

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