Seven people charged following confrontation with police in Whitehall, Westmoreland
WESTMORELAND, Jamaica – Seven people have been slapped with charges after a viral video surfaced showing angry residents in a brawl, after one resident was reportedly resisting arrest when the police went to shut down a party in Whitehall, Westmoreland on Sunday.
The main antagonist has been identified as Andre Brown from Old Hope, Little London.
Observer Online understands that lawmen had gone to shut down a party in the community, when Brown hurled offensive slurs at them.
In the video that went viral on social media a man in a black sweater was seen grabbing the neck of an officer, while he threw blows at him. A woman was also seen intervening as a tug-of-war ensued. The man is also said to have disarmed one of the lawmen as they rolled repeatedly on the ground.
The officers could be seen hitting the man with their rifles, while residents shouted and boosted the man.
According to Detective Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shaunjaye Mitchell, Brown is still in custody and has been slapped with nine charges.
He is charged with four counts of assault occasioning bodily harm, unlawful wounding, resisting arrest, use of abusive and calumnious language, obstructing the police, failure to move and keep on moving, disorderly conduct, disobeying a constable and assaulting a police officer.
The DSP said the lawmen were met with force when they arrived at the entertainment event in the community, after residents called complaining of the noise after 6:00 am. He said the lawmen went and the promoter complied. However, when the lawmen left the music was back on, and the police returned only to be met with force.
He added that Brown started to act boisterously and began to use indecent language at the police officers. Mitchell said Brown was warned to desist from doing the same. However, he said, Brown did not comply.
The police, he said, attempted to arrest Brown but they were met with force as he started to hit the officers.
DSP Mitchell also revealed that the four officers involved received injuries, noting that one has scars below his eye.
DSP Mitchell added that more charges will be preferred against Brown.
-Kimberley Peddie
