Residents of Cherry Tree Lane claim unfair treatment by police

 

Residents of Cherry Tree Lane in Clarendon say they are being unfairly treated by police. 

 

The community came to national attention last year after armed men opened fire on a group of people at a birthday party, killing eight. 

 

Since then, two suspects have been arrested and charged and another fatally shot by the police. 

 

But residents who spoke with Radio Jamaica News on Wednesday morning say they are being unfairly targeted by police, citing Monday's fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man in an alleged confrontation with the police. 

 

Jamar Farquharson was killed during a planned police operation in the community Monday, and a firearm was reportedly recovered. 

 

Police say they went to execute a search warrant on a house occupied by Mr. Farquharson. But during the process, he retrieved a weapon, pointed it at them and was shot.

 

A .38 revolver was recovered. 

 

Mr. Farquharson was pronounced dead at hospital. 

 

But residents who spoke with their new centre say the killing was unjustified. 

 

"Now, this young man now, whatever happened, they went to his house. He opened his house for the police and he would get killed in his own house. There is not a shot where him fire or a shootout. So nobody know nothing weh a gwaan, nobody understand nothing. The police just tightlipped. Everything just under cover. So we the community feel like we want justice, and we must get justice."

 

The resident said despite the police's mandate to serve and protect, the community instead feels fearful due to the conduct of some members of the force. She urged the Commissioner of Police and the government to hold the cops accountable. 

 

Another resident agreed that the community is living in fear of the police. 

 

"Right now, better eh police left wi wid eh criminal dem, mek dem do weh dem want do to wi. We feel safer wid di criminal dem. When dem come, dem rob wi, if dem feel fi tek wi phone, empty wi house, do weh dem feel fi do, gwaan, we aguh live fi see another day. But dem (police) a come, dem a threaten wi, a tell wi seh dem aguh kill wi," the resident alleged.

 

Calls to commanding officer of the Clarendon police, Superintendent Shane McCalla, have gone unanswered.