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Probe underway after retired senior cop pepper-sprayed by constable

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Retired DSP Altemorth Parro Campbell, retired SSP Newton Amos and Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry
 
An investigation is underway into the pepper-spraying of a retired senior policeman by a constable during a traffic stop on Molynes Road in St. Andrew.
 
The retired cop Altemorth Parro Campbell was pepper-sprayed in the eyes after he disobeyed the constable's directive to exit his vehicle to be arrested.
 
The exchange between former Deputy Superintendent of Police Campbell and the constable was captured in an amateur cellphone video.
 
Deputy Commissioner Selvin Hay, Inspector General of the Jamaica Constabulary Force, confirmed with RJR News that the Inspectorate of Constabulary is conducting the probe.
 
Speaking on RJR's call-in programme, Hotline, Friday morning, Mr. Campbell gave his version of the incident which he said occurred on Wednesday afternoon.
 
He said while travelling on Molynes Road, he overtook a stationary vehicle and another vehicle, whose driver was turning left.
 
Shortly after, Mr. Campbell said police officers in a marked vehicle drove up and requested that he pull over. 
 
He said when an officer approached his vehicle, he rolled down his window and asked what he had done. 
 
"He said to me, I overtook several vehicles down the road. I said no officer, not several. If you were behind me, you would have seen that it was a stationary vehicle." 
 
He explained to the officer that the vehicle's driver appeared to be a woman who was on her phone. 
 
As for the other vehicle he overtook: "The other vehicle was turning left. Him say me shoulda wait 'til the vehicle turn," the retired cop recalled.  
 
Mr. Campbell said after explaining to the constable what had occurred, his driver's licence was requested. 
 
When he told the cop he did not have his licence in his possession, the officer threatened to arrest him. 
 
Mr. Campbell was pepper-sprayed after he made an attempt to exit the vehicle and then changed his mind.
 
The police constable sprayed from the can a second time, but missed as Mr. Campbell was in the process of winding up his window.
 
Mr. Campbell said, in that moment, he was fearful for his life and that of his son, despite having his licensed firearm in his possession. 
 
"I locked the door, fearful that him would pull the door. That was my fear," he said, suggesting that if the cop had already reacted by using pepper-spray, it was possible that he could do worse. 
 
A senior police officer eventually arrived on the scene and diffused the situation.
 
Mr. Campbell said he is to give a statement to the police on Friday.
 
Retired Senior Superintendent of Police Newton Amos said, given the nature of the incident, the police high command should state its position because "unless the rules and the regulations have changed...then one could have seen clearly that the police officer would have committed several breaches of the Force's Standing Orders, Rules and Regulations." 
 
In a media release Friday afternoon, the Police High Command said an investigation is underway into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
 
It said motorists are being advised to adhere to the instructions of police officers when stopped for traffic checks or violations.
 
The High Command is also insisting on professionalism being extended to members of the public. 
 
Public Defender 
 
Public Defender Arlene Harrison Henry has weighed in on the incident, saying the actions of the police should not be condoned. 
 
"This video I saw, this gentleman who was behind the steering wheel posed no threat whatsoever to the police officer. How does a pepper-spray come into play when you pepper-spray the gentleman who is in a confined space, who is offering you no resistance, who has not threatened you in any way that you should use any kind of force?" she lamented. 
 
Mrs Harrison Henry said she is concerned about how the police will treat citizens when new rules making it mandatory for motorists to have their driver's licences with them at all times come into effect.
 
"Is this how the police intend to behave when the new Traffic Act is law, that if I don't have my driver's licence on me, I'm likely to be pepper-sprayed?" she questioned. 
 
 
 
 


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