MONTEGO BAY, St James

Teachers’ Day celebrations were stymied at the Glendevon Primary and Junior High yesterday in the wake of a massive protest over the killing by the police of a resident, Tuesday night.

The residents say the police cut down the deceased, Conroy Stennett, 27-year-old of Hendon, Glendevon, in cold blood.

However the police say that Stennett, whom they have linked with the notorious Stone Crusher gang, was among a group of suspicious-looking men which opened fire at them during a police operation in the community at about 5:50 pm.

The police say Stennett, who was on bail for three counts of murder committed in the parish, was hit when they returned the fire.

But the demonstrating residents insisted Stennett, from whose body a Jennings Bryco semi-automatic pistol with four rounds of ammunition were recovered, was not a gangster.

“Them a liar and wicked. Any Stone Crusher who no dead deh a prison,” one vociferous female resident told the Observer West yesterday.

“Them a talk bout the man a Stone Crusher, the man a no no Stone Crusher. They say him bad, where him a get money fe buy him car. Everyday them say him fe go build him coffin because he will not live to see his next birthday,” a visibly angry male resident noted.

Vehicular passage into the community was impossible yesterday as irate residents lit tyres and whatever debris they could find to block roads at several points in the community. Reports are that several stranded commuters were held up on Tuesday night when the demonstrations commenced.

A team of firefighters had to be escorted by a strong contingent of police to put out the fire which caught a utility pole in front of Glendevon Primary and Junior High School yesterday morning.

In the meantime, the lawmen say they have intensified their search for the slain man’s sibling, Rohan Stennett, who is wanted for a double murder, for which Conroy was also implicated.

And according to Senior Superintendent of Police, Granville Gause, the head of the Bureau of Special Investigation (BSI), his organisation has commenced investigation into the police killing.

Tuesday’s incident heels Monday night’s prediction by St James’ Commanding Officer, Superintendent Steve McGregor, that his outfit would lessen the number of criminals in St James before the calling of the general elections which are constitutionally due in October.

However, he insisted yesterday that intelligence supported the police’s claim.