Man in custody as councillor foils abduction of child in Clarendon

 

The police are making arrangements to question a man who was caught abducting a six-year-old girl in May Pen, Clarendon on Tuesday. 

 

The child, a student of the St. Thomas Moore Prep School in May Pen, was reported missing from school about 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday. 

 

Just over two hours later, she was found in the company of a man on Glenmuir Road, near the intersection with Bustamante Highway. 

 

The man was accosted and held by former mayor of May Pen and People's National Party Councillor Scean Barnswell. 

 

A photo of the politician arresting the suspect has been circulating on social media. He later handed him over to the police. 

 

In a clip of Mr. Barnswell and his wife recounting the dramatic incident, Mrs. Barnswell explained that they spotted a little girl, who matched the description of the one reported missing, walking in the company of a man. 

 

Mr. Barnswell called out to the man, questioning his relation to the girl in his company. But he did not respond, so the councillor used his vehicle to block the man's path.  

 

Mr. Barnswell then exited the vehicle and accosted the man, allowing the child to run to his wife. 

 

They called the police who quickly came to scene and arrested the man. 

 

Meanwhile, a resident who spoke with Radio Jamaica News, explained that the man is believed to be of unsound mind.

 

"I don't know what happened, but I think he's getting worse as the days [go] by, because he has never done that before, all these years that I have known him. And I think he needs medication, but there is no family member right now in Jamaica to assist him. But I think he's going through a lot, and he's of unsound mind. He's doing things that he's not supposed to be doing. He's taking up rubbish now that I never used to see him doing those stuff."

 

The sympathetic resident suggested that the man is "badly in need of help".