RESIDENTS OF Grants Pen Drive, Northeast St. An-drew, formed a human chain across Grants Pen Road yesterday morning forcing traffic to a crawl, as they protested against what they described as police harassment and brutality.
A woman, who identified herself only as "Pat", who was seen among a group of placard-bearing residents, reported that a team of police and soldiers led by Senior Supt. Reneto Adams of the Crime Management Team, visited the community yesterday morning looking for her brother Andrew Phang.
She showed reporters a CBR F4 Honda motorcycle belonging to Phang that she said was damaged by the police before they left. The brake hose connection was cut and both tyres were punctured.
In a brief telephone conversation with The Gleaner yesterday, Andrew Phang, a reputed area leader, said he had no information that he was wanted by the police.
"Every day the Constant Spring Police dem pass me and don't sey nutten to me, so me nuh wanted," said Phang.
But SSP Adams said: "We would like to interrogate him based on available intelligence.
A tearful Una Stephens, Phang's mother, said that within two years -- 1997 and 1998 -- she had lost her husband and two sons to gun killings.
Referring to her son Andrew Phang, she said: "He is the only person me have that is taking care of me now. I am appealing to the police not to kill mi son," she said.
