Former People’s National Party (PNP) caretaker for North Central St Andrew Dr Jephthah Ford is now in hospital after being allegedly mauled by police at a dance gate at Port Henderson in St Catherine on Easter Sunday night.

Ford reportedly underwent surgery and a battery of tests yesterday as a result of the battering which ended with him receiving head and chest injuries.

Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas yesterday ordered a probe into the incident and assigned head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Assistant Commissioner Denver Frater, the responsibility of leading the investigation.

The Professional Standards Branch (PSB) also commenced a probe into the incident.

“I understand he was in an operation at the Kingston Public Hospital and should have undergone further tests at the University Hospital,” Superintendent Dayton Henry of the PSB told the Observer yesterday of Dr Ford.

According to a sound system staff member who worked at the Wet Wet Reggae Soca Affair at the Fun City Beach, which Ford operates under a lease agreement, the police were allegedly moonlighting as security staff at the entrance to the dance when an altercation developed between them and Ford’s sister.

“They wanted to bring some people into the dance, but the police didn’t let them in,” said the sound system man, who claimed he witnessed the incident. “They left and went for Mr Ford because he runs the premises.”

The man claimed that when Ford arrived on the scene, he became embroiled in a heated argument with the cops who relieved Ford of his licensed firearm and began raining blows all over his body.

“They didn’t have to behave so bad because he’s a big old man,” said the sound system man. “Them beat him like a slave until him almost dead.”

Ford was allegedly taken to the Greater Portmore Police Station in an unconscious state where he was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and assault, before being taken to hospital.

The cops involved in the altercation were, up to yesterday afternoon, not interviewed by the PSB.

“We have not been able to speak to them yet as they are not stationed in Portmore,” Superintendent Henry said, adding that the PSB would look into allegations that the cops were ‘roasting’ during their off-duty hours.

“If it is found that they were doing that, then they would be slapped with charges, but we need evidence, we can’t send a man to court on rumours,” he said.

In the meantime, PNP General-Secretary Donald Buchanan said he had ordered his deputy, Julian Robinson, to look into the incident.

“We will be awaiting the outcome of these investigations,” Buchanan said.

Yesterday, the Fun City Beach was closed to the public. A sign, written on a folder leaf, read ‘Beach closed for today’. Two men who peered from behind a locked metal gate refused to answer queries from the Observer and only responded by shaking their heads.