WESTMORELAND, Jamaica — A 27-year-old farmer is now facing gun charges for a weapon he allegedly discarded after he ditched his motorcycle and attempted to elude lawmen at a roadblock along the Friendship main road in Westmoreland last Saturday.

Kenworth Johnson of Strawberry District, Friendship, has been charged with possession of a prohibited weapon and unauthorised possession of ammunition.

Reports from the Whithorn police are that about 10:30 pm, while conducting a roadblock along the Friendship main road, a motorcyclist was signalled to stop. The driver initially complied but then reportedly tried to elude the police by jumping from the motorcycle and running into a neighbouring community.

The police went in pursuit of the man and he was apprehended. He then reportedly took an object from his waistband and threw it to the ground.

The object was retrieved and found to be a black Taurus 9mm pistol with a magazine affixed containing five 9mm cartridges.

He was arrested and subsequently charged on Thursday after a question-and-answer session in the presence of his attorney.