Cop held with suspected gunmen

Jamaica's acting police chief has confirmed that a police constable is under investigation after he was reportedly apprehended in Albion, St Thomas, yesterday in a motor car with three men suspected of committing a murder.

According to law-enforcement officials, the constable is assigned to the Hunt's Bay Police Station in St Andrew.

Investigators also revealed that two illegal firearms were found in the vehicle, which was intercepted by a police team after a man, identified as Carl Armstrong, 33, was sprayed with bullets in front of terrified students at the Grants Pen Primary and Infant School in St Thomas.

"It is a serious matter whenever a member of the constabulary has to be taken into custody. We wait to see where the investigation leads us," acting Police Commissioner Novelette Grant told The Gleaner yesterday.

The police report that Armstrong had just transported several students to the Grants Pen Primary and Infant School when a another car pulled up beside him.

The occupants of the car reportedly opened fire, striking Armstrong several times in the upper body before speeding off.

The incident caused school administrators to suspend classes for the day and arrange counselling for terrified students. The counselling sessions are expected to continue today.

Law-enforcement officials revealed that the car was intercepted in the Albion area with four men aboard. It was later discovered that one of the occupants is a serving member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

The incident comes a month after two policemen, also assigned to the Hunts Bay Police Station, were arrested on corruption charges for allegedly collecting $300,000 from a woman to free a man accused of murder.