Man allegedly assaults cop enforcing law restricting sale of alcohol during an election

The police in St Catherine are seeking to capture a man who on Monday allegedly assaulted a policewoman at a bar in Crawl district, Riversdale, Spanish Town.

They say she was a part of a team that was enforcing the law governing the sale of alcohol during an election.

The police report that about 3:50 p.m. the policeman entered the bar and instructed that the establishment be closed until the conclusion of the voting.

Polls for Monday's local government election opened at 7 a.m. and closed  at 5 p.m.

Under the law, all establishments licensed to sell alcoholic beverages, including bars, nightclubs, and liquor stores, must be closed one hour before the opening of polling stations and remain closed for six hours after the closing of voting.

Following the order for the bar to be closed, a male patron reportedly became boisterous and when accosted he allegedly assaulted the female cop.

He managed to elude capture and was being sought up to late yesterday evening.

"The police will be continuing its search for this individual with a view to prosecuting him," an inspector said.

Meanwhile, the returning officer for Eastern St Catherine, Michael Terrelonge, said that the effort of the security forces must be commended.

"The police were vigilant in enforcement of the law, which governs the closure of spirit license establishment to include bars during the time when votes are being cast," Terrelonge said.

Throughout the day's electoral activities, the security forces kept a grip on acts of indiscipline.

It was revealed that voters were not allowed to take alcoholic beverages onto the compounds of polling stations.

- Rasbert Turner

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