Police involved in Porus shooting off front line duty

Members of the Island Special Constabulary Force (ISCF), who were involved in Tuesday's controversial shooting of 26-year-old Gregory Pommels in Porus, Manchester have been taken off front-line duty.

This was confirmed on Tuesday night by Head of the Manchester Police Superintendent Lascelles Taylor.

And in a late night development, six people, including the stepfather and brother of the deceased man, were arrested on charges of disorderly conduct.

This followed a standoff involving residents and the police, during which there was a protest and a stone-throwing incident.

The six were later granted $30,000 station bail and are to appear in the Porus Resident Magistrate's Court on January 17.

Superintendent Taylor on Tuesday night gave the assurance that Mr. Pommels' shooting will be thoroughly investigated.

Speaking with residents in front of the Porus Police Station, the Commanding Officer said a team from the Bureau of Special Investigations (BSI) will be early on the ground to commence its probe.  

He urged them to be calm and cooperate with the investigators.

Mr. Pommels was shot about 1:30 Tuesday afternoon.

Reports are that the cops were responding to a robbery when they came under gunfire.

They fired back and during an alleged shootout Mr. Pommels was killed.

However, several residents disputed this claim and marched to the Porus Police Station to protest against his death.

And Member of Parliament for North East Manchester Audley Shaw, has appealed to Mr. Pommels' family and friends to co-operate with the police.

Mr. Shaw visited the area shortly after the shooting, and in the presence of Superintendent Taylor, asked the residents to assist the investigation.

“What we expect from the police is absolute transparency in carrying out the investigations into exactly what happened because we know that the family is grieving, we can see that and I can’t be a judge, the superintendent can’t be a judge but other bodies own testimonies and point of view has to be taken into consideration in the investigation,” Mr. Shaw said.