KINGSTON, Jamaica — A police investigation is reportedly underway into allegations that Mayor of Portmore, the People’s National Party’s Leon Thomas, assaulted three women during a recent contentious meeting on the premises of the St Catherine Municipal Corporation.

The probe stems from an explosive stakeholders meeting which was held on Tuesday to discuss Portmore becoming a parish.

In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, Mayor Thomas conceded that he removed placards from the hands of some protesters at the meeting.

The mayor said he did so to restore order.

“As presiding officer, I took steps to restore order, including removing placards from the hands of those who were deliberately creating chaos. My sole intention was to de-escalate a volatile situation and ensure the meeting could proceed peacefully and constructively,” said Mayor Thomas in the statement.

READ: Portmore mayor says JLP supporters ‘derailed’ community meeting on parish status

The Portmore mayor has been facing criticism on social media following the circulation of a video from the meeting.

During the event, a visibly agitated Mayor Thomas, is seen approaching a woman and seemingly grabbing a placard from her hands.

The woman appeared to take evasive action.

During his approach, Thomas appeared to make contact with another woman who appeared to temporarily lose her balance when he collided with her.

The St Catherine South police are investigating the incident. The video reportedly forms part of the police investigation.

A third alleged altercation between Mayor Thomas and a woman who attended the meeting is also being investigated by the police.