THE EDITOR, Sir:
ON SATURDAY, May 8, 2004, I encountered firsthand, the abuse that is sometimes meted out to the citizens of this country by the police. I was downtown Kingston at the Bashco store when a white mini van drove up with rear side doors on both sides open and a woman lying in the back on the floor. The woman was wailing and asking that her goods be given back and she be given a chance. Her feet were outside the vehicle and her face was down on the dirty van floor.
The van stopped at the curb of the store where a female police sought to explain to curious onlookers that it was the woman who had thrown herself into the van. In the meantime, the woman (vendor) left the van and laid herself along the road with her head at the rear of a front tyre of the van. Persons started telling the driver not to drive. A policeman who was across the road came over, held the woman by the hand, and dragged her from beneath the vehicle.
That event stirred the crowd to express their annoyance at the policeman's behaviour. The policeman then took a pepper spray and sprayed those who were around him, ordering them to move and keep on moving before they were arrested.
Soon after a police jeep drove up with an inspector who was made aware of what had happened. He removed the policeman who was still threatening to further pepper spray bystanders on the sidewalk.
I wonder what sort of action was taken against this policeman for his behaviour.
I am, etc.,
CONCERNED
