Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN, St. Catherine:

The Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI) has been called in to probe the shooting of a man by the police in Gutters, St. Catherine on Tuesday night.

It is reported that the man, Andre Martin of Gutters, was walking along the road, when a car with men reported to be police personnel stopped him and shot him several times. He did not die but, according to residents, was taken away by the police.

When residents of the area got wind of what had taken place, the police reportedly told them that Martin had pulled the lock of the trunk of the police car and made his escape. The residents blocked the main road Tuesday night continuing into Wednesday morning, effectively bringing traffic to a halt for several hours. Hundreds of pedestrians, including school children, were left stranded.

Cat-and-mouse game

The arrival of heavily armed police did not make things any better as the residents started to play a cat-and-mouse game. As the lawmen removed the blockades, residents erected them elsewhere. It took the efforts of the fire brigade to put out several fires that were lit by the protesters.

On the arrival of police, the residents were told the matter would be investigated fairly.

In the meantime, Eura McCarthy said she was still waiting for the police to tell her where to locate her son. Up to late in the afternoon, detectives from the BSI were in the area collecting statements.