Cop says escapee was under constable's table

Christopher Thomas, Gleaner Writer

Western Bureau:

Detective Inspector Linton Bailey yesterday told the Montego Bay Resident Magistrate's Court that while executing a search warrant at the home of a fellow cop, Constable Faye Falconer, last year, he found escapee Greg Taylor hiding under a table.

Bailey was giving testimony in the case involving four police officers, who are charged with breaches of the Corruption (Prevention) Act, arising from the January 30, 2013 incident in which Taylor allegedly escaped custody from the Freeport Police Station.

Bailey yesterday told the court that he rearrested Taylor and arrested Falconer for breaches of the Corruption (Prevention) Act. Three other police personnel, Constables Kirton Green, Raymond Johnson and Alicia Hutchinson, were subsequently arrested and charged for allegedly conspiring in Taylor's escape.

Under kitchen table

In his testimony, Bailey said that, based on information received, he had prepared a warrant to search Falconer's Sun Valley Road home in Montego Bay.

"During the search, I saw Greg Taylor under a table in the kitchen and dining area of the house," said Bailey. "He was taken into custody at Freeport and Ms Falconer was also taken into custody."

In fielding questions from attorney-at-law Leonard Green, who is representing one of the four accused constables, Bailey stated that he was not personally able to say how Taylor, who was labelled a dangerous prisoner, had got out of custody.

Disappeared from Station

"Do you know where Greg Taylor disappeared from?" Green asked Bailey.

"He was in custody at the Freeport Police Station and he disappeared," said Bailey.

"Was his disappearance a lawful disappearance as far as you are aware?" Green continued.

"That sounds to me like a trick question, so I will not answer that question," Bailey replied.

District Constable Fontley Lewis, who was listed as the officer on duty at the Freeport lock-up when Taylor allegedly escaped custody, also took the witness stand.

"Where were you on January 30?" clerk of the court Natalie Malcolm asked Lewis.

"It was my day off," said Lewis, explaining his absence from work on the day of the alleged escape.

In explaining the procedure by which a prisoner should be released from custody, Lewis stated that the officers who want to remove the prisoner would have to identify themselves, and then ask for the prisoner by name. The prisoner card would be located and the prisoner signed out.

The case is slated to continue on March 3 when Green, Johnson and Hutchinson are slated to reappear. Falconer is being tried separately.