WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – A 23 year-old bike operator, Kamar Powell of Delve Land in the parish Westmoreland who was allegedly beaten by police on Wednesday night has succumbed to his injuries. Powell died early this morning in the Savanna-la-mar hospital.

The beating of Powell had led to residents taking their fury to the streets Thursday morning. They had block the New Hope main road located between Sheffield to Little London.

During the protest on Thursday, over 500 acres or 15,000 tons of sugar cane was set on fire.

This morning’s death of Powell has led to a major demonstration now underway in Westmoreland. They have used trees and other debris to block the road.

The residents claimed that around ten Wednesday night, Powell was hit from his motor cycle and beaten by a set of police at the gates of the St. Paul’s Anglican Church. The residence claim he was not taken to hospital until three this morning.

“The police them take him up from 10:30 and have him a drive round from Little London to Negril, never reach Hospital until 3:30 this morning with him,” stated a citizen of Delve Land who refrain from being identified.

The woman continued, “him work and is on vacation. This a no gunman. Come on man! Police cannot drive down people like this. We need justice.”

The woman further states what she said is the set of police carrying out such action.

“A the black suit police them. The red seam come and them no gi wi no problem,” the woman added.

The police has given a different version of what took place claiming that in order to get away from the police, Powell sped away and later crash into a utility pole. He was not wearing protective gears.

A senior source at Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) told the Jamaica Observer Online that, “INDECOM is giving the matter full attention.”

The source continued, “a team from INDECOM visited the scene, spoke to residents and collected two spent casing. We visited the Savanna-la-mar hospital as well, and spoke to relatives of the victim.”