‘Disturbing level of aggression’

“The video, though I don’t know what preceded the clip, shows a disturbing level of aggression and use of pepper spray on a juvenile,” declared Hamish Campbell, assistant commissioner of the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM).

Campbell was making reference to a viral video now making the rounds on social media depicting police officers roughly attempting to restrain a reported 11-year-old boy wearing a khaki uniform in Oracabessa, St Mary, last week.

In the video clip, it appeared that one of the policemen pepper-sprayed the boy then pinned him to the ground using his knee and fist as the child cried out for water.

Noting that no formal report had been made to the investigative body about the incident up to yesterday afternoon, Campbell called on members of the public to come forward.

It’s all good and well, he said, to report incidents of abuse by the security forces on social media, but that alone is not enough to secure meaningful justice.

In the video that showed approximately five policemen on the scene, there was no indication as to what triggered the incident that also involved an altercation with a motorist and the videographer.

In the heated exchange, one cop ordered the boy to, “Sidung yahso. You a badman?”

“Water. Water. Mi can get some water?” the boy cried, seemingly squinting his eyes because of the pepper spray.

“No,” the cop responded while pinning him to the sidewalk with his knee and fist.

“Yuh naw get no water,” another said, standing over him.

One of the cops, who appears to be a supervisor, then told the officer who was kneeling on the child to let him sit up.

The cop then raised the child from the sidewalk, whose clothes was dishevelled, his belt undone and his pants falling off.

The child then went on to explain to the cops his adverse living and parental situation, but they seemed in no mood to listen and ordered him to sit on the sidewalk.

“Mi modda left mi! Mi fadda alone a tek care a mi, me and mi little sista!” the boy shouted.

“You a throw lick pon di police?” one officer said.

“…nobody else cyan help mi, fadda, yuh nuh see that!” the boy continued.

The adult male who was videoing the incident was also heard arguing with one of the officers who wanted to know who he was and why he was there.

“A mi uncle dat, man” the man said, pointing to someone. “No man, mi can stay from a mile and video.”

Commenting on the video, some social media users expressed outrage at how the police were handling the situation and the boy, while others scolded the child for his behaviour in “fighting the police” and “lack of respect for their authority”.

‘JCF MUST EQUALLY TAKE RESPONSIBILITY’

“If we are informed and know who the child and adult recording are, then INDECOM would investigate. Equally, the JCF (Jamaica Constabulary Force) should be examining the officers’ actions in this section of the video. However, as I said, what happened immediately prior may have had relevance,” the INDECOM assistant commissioner told The Sunday Gleaner.

He also advised the parents or guardians of the boy to report the matter to the JCF’s Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau (IPROB), which is obligated to investigate. It also helps, he said, if witnesses to the incident come forward to make statements, or provide additional video evidence surrounding the incident.

“When we see these videos of such behaviour, we don’t have the location, names of people involved, or the full account. We are observing just a snapshot in time of the incident, which is almost always after the confrontation has started. So we can’t just initiate inquiries without the support of the citizens and complainants,” said Campbell, noting that in some cases INDECOM has had to seek the identities of embattled policemen from IPROB.

“This is why the JCF must equally take responsibility for addressing these events and allaying public concern and grievances without waiting for a complaint. They would know the officers involved far quicker than we would be able to identify them.”

Yesterday afternoon, head of the St Mary Police Division, Bobbeth Morgan-Simpson, confirmed the incident.

“I understand that there is an incident; however, I am not going to comment on it. In fact, I have not even seen the video as yet,” Morgan-Simpson told The Sunday Gleaner.

CPFSA INVESTIGATING

In a statement yesterday evening, the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA) said that it was “in receipt of a now viral video of a male student being accosted by uniformed police. The agency has launched an investigation into this matter”.

“The agency would also like to remind and encourage persons to report any and all forms of child abuse using the 24-hour child abuse reporting hotline 211. Child abuse reports may also be made through WhatsApp/text at 876-878-2882, email report@childprotection.gov.jm or by visiting any CPFSA parish office, or through our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter) @cpfsajm,” the agency said.

corey.robinson@gleanerjm.com