POLICE yesterday intensified their search for the escaped suspect linked to the murder of Constable Lynden Barrett.

Police say the suspect, identified as Nicholas Drummond, otherwise called ‘Titty Dollar’, who was on the run for more than a month, was finally apprehended on Saturday but managed to escape a day later when he was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital for medical treatment.

Drummond, it was reported, ran into a nearby community after leaving the hospital and was chased by policemen. However, a policeman was shot and injured by gunmen who police said assisted in the escape of the accused. The injured policeman was admitted to hospital.

Investigators have already charged two suspects who they believe were involved in the murder of Constable Barrett on July 21. They are Horatio Livine, otherwise called ‘Ratio’ and Gratiano Green, otherwise called ‘Beh Beh’. They were arrested in August during operations in Manchester and Red Hills, St Andrew.

Barrett, who was assigned to the Kingston Western Police Division, was shot dead near Wellington Street in Denham Town.

In the meantime, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has launched an investigation into the shooting death of 25-year-old Andrew Gayle, alias ‘Boysie’, during a police operation in Trench Town.

Residents in the area claimed that Gayle was standing on top of his house trying to pick ackees when a team of police officers passing the area saw him and opened fire.

‘The youth a pick ackee in a him ‘underpants’ and the police them just stop and start fire shot at him,” one woman claimed.

Police have, however, denied the claim.

INDECOM said the police reported that approximately 6:00 am, a total of 71 police officers from Denham Town and Mobile Reserve were conducting a special joint operation in the Trench Town area in search of wanted men, illegal guns and ammunition when members of the team were fired on when they entered premises on Fourth Street, Collie Smith Drive.

Police returned the fire and a man was shot and injured. He was taken to the Kingston Public Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Police said a firearm was recovered during the operation.

— Kimmo Matthews