CLARK’S TOWN, Trelawny — The Trelawny police have arrested two persons believed to be the occupants of the Toyota Axio motor car which on Friday mowed down Police Inspector Mark Gibbs as he and two of his colleagues conducted spot checks in front of the Clark’s Town Police Station in Trelawny.

According to Commanding Officer for Trelawny Superintendent Clive Blair, the men were taken into custody during a pre-dawn operation in the parish yesterday.

He said the police have also recovered the motor vehicle that was involved in the hit-and-run.

Inspector Gibbs, who resided in Cornwall Courts, St James, was reportedly mowed down about 4:30 pm after signalling the driver of the motor car to stop.

The senior cop, who had been enlisted in the police force for more than 30 years, was hit as he attempted to jump out of the path of the oncoming vehicle, as the driver, who had slowed down and pretended that he was about to stop, suddenly sped up and swung the vehicle onto him.

Gibbs sustained multiple injuries and was taken to Falmouth General Hospital, some 10 miles away, where he was pronounced dead.

The bizarre incident has plunged the Trelawny Police Division and the Clark’s Town community –where Inspector Gibbs has been stationed for the past nine months – into mourning.

“We are traumatised; there is a gloom over the police division; there is grief all over. We are really saddened by the way in which he lost his life,” said the grief-stricken superintendent.

Clark’s Town resident Trevor Davis described the police inspector as “a very nice man”.

“He would never pass anyone and don’t say hi. You could always go to him with your problems and he would counsel you. He was a good mediator,” said Davis. “I have never heard anyone say anything bad about him, the entire Clark’s Town community is hurting.”

Hillary Hibbert, another resident, concurred.

“I met Inspector Gibbs the second day that he took up duties at Clark’s Town Police Station and I have found him to be a very nice man… someone who you could talk to just about anything… Christianity, family matters… he was very receptive. We are really saddened by the incident,” Hibbert told the Jamaica Observer.