KINGSTON, Jamaica — The Police High Command said it has directed the Inspectorate of Constabulary (IOC) to investigate a video clip being circulated on social media that was posted by a media house depicting members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) in an altercation with members of the public.

The announcement by the Police High Command to launch a probe comes on the heels of a call yesterday by the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) into reports of an unprovoked assault by the police on a newspaper photographer who tried to record the altercation on Tuesday.

Read: Press Association calls for investigation into assault on photographer by police

According to the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), the photographer, Rudolph Brown reported that while in the Cross Roads area, he witnessed a commotion apparently caused by attempts by the police to arrest a man. He started to use his phone to record the incident. On being told to stop by the police sergeant on location, he says he clearly identified himself as a member of the media, both verbally and by showing his company ID card which was around his neck.

“Brown says he continued to record the proceedings and heard the police sergeant tell a constable to pepper spray him. He says the police constable sprayed pepper spray directly into his eyes, causing him severe pain and distress, which continued for hours and worsened later in the evening,” the PAJ statement stated.

In the meantime, the High Command is asking individuals who witnessed the incident and those involved to contact the IOC at 906-5325 or 754-8217. Additionally, the original maker of the video is being urged to get in touch with the IOC to help facilitate the investigations.

The JCF said it is committed to delivering professional services to members of the public as they seek to create safer communities, and is reminding citizens of their rights and responsibilities when they are stopped or are being apprehended by the police under the Code of Conduct for Police-Citizen Relations in Jamaica.