Policeman wounded by machete-wielding attacker

   

A policeman is being treated for chop wounds which were inflicted by a machete-wielding man in Hyattsfield, St. Ann on Thursday morning.

 

His attacker, Herbert Hinds, was shot and later died at hospital.

 

Deputy Superintendent Rochelle McGibbon-Scott, in charge of Zone Two, told Radio Jamaica News that sometime before 9 a.m., three officers from the Ocho Rios station responded to a complaint that Mr. Hinds had breached a restraining order.

 

On seeing the police, Mr. Hinds ran into bushes and was pursued. 

 

"When Constable White went into a direction where he actually was running, we realised that something was wrong. He said that he stopped and was shouting out for Mr. Hinds. He realised that Mr. Hinds then came in his direction with a machete in his hand. He called out to him on several occasions and so the other officers were able to hear [Constable] White calling out to Mr. Hinds to drop the machete. Mr. Hinds did not drop the machete and so he advanced swiftly to Constable White who actually had to step back and fire shots in his direction," DSP McGibbon-Scott reported. 

 

Mr. Hinds, as well as the constable, who received chop wounds on his hand and to the left side of his face, were taken to hospital where Mr. Hinds died. 

 

DSP McGibbon-Scott said the injuries sustained by the policeman are not life-threatening.

 

She appealed for persons not to resist or attack the police when they are carrying out their duties. 

 

"The police has a responsibility to treat with reports that came into their attention and so when that is done we are asking for full compliance. Once it is that any individual decides to attack our members, then they have a responsibility, by virtue of their training, to do what is required at the time. And it is unfortunate that our life has been lost. This is something that could have been avoided if Mr. Hinds had just listened and adhered to the instructions given," she lamented.