The police have accepted that they erred when they published the image of 26-year-old Alando Gray on social media in their Wanted Wednesdays campaign that led to him spending five days behind bars, and say they have put systems in place to prevent a recurrence.

In a statement sent to the media on Friday, the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) said the error occurred due to the existence of another individual with the identical name, who is in fact wanted in connection with a murder investigation.

“We deeply regret this mistake and offer our sincerest apologies to Mr Alando Gray, recognising any inconvenience or distress this may have caused. In light of this incident, we have conducted a thorough review of our internal processes and quality management systems to ensure the accuracy and integrity of all information we release to the public. We are committed to preventing any recurrence of such errors in the future,” the JCF said.

The police also said they remain dedicated to reducing crime, ensuring public safety, and upholding the human rights and civil liberties of every individual.

“We thank the public for their understanding and continued support,” the JCF added.

The popular Wanted Wednesdays campaign is used by the police to publicise individuals wanted for crimes and encourage public assistance in their apprehension. Since it started in 2022 the police say they have received 3,990 tips and made 250 arrests.

Gray, who lives in Clarendon, said he was doing construction work with his father in Manchester on Wednesday, May 28, when he started receiving phone calls alerting him that his picture was posted on the JCF’s social media pages as being wanted for a murder in Gregory Park, Portmore, St Catherine.

“I thought it was a joke until everybody I know started sending it [the Wanted Wednesdays post] to me and asking me what was happening.

“I am 26 years old and I have never been to Portmore. I wondered what was happening. I know a police officer and I asked him to check the police station for me, please, because I see my name on Wanted Wednesdays list and I am not a wanted man. Same time he called down there and they told him I was wanted. He was trying to explain to them that I do construction and I go to church. He told me to get my documents and go to Portmore and try to clear my name,” Gray shared.

“At that time, I stopped working completely because I was shocked. I called another police officer from Clarendon and I explained to him and he said he would call and check. He got the same thing. I decided I have to go in with a justice of the peace or a pastor. I know a policeman who goes for wanted men and does special operation raids. He said I have to turn myself in like the next day because situations like that are serious and I have to clear my name,” Gray related.

He said that the following day, Thursday, May 29, a pastor picked him up and took him to a police station in Mandeville. He was accompanied by his father. He said the police told him that they had no clue what he was referring to but said they would make some calls.

Gray told the Observer that when the police returned to him, they explained that police in Portmore had called and said he should be placed in custody until the Portmore police came to pick him up. He said he was taken to a holding area and cops sent his father to buy white T-shirt, underpants, toothbrush, toothpaste, and body wash for him.

“They searched me and made me take off my clothes. I had to bend down and cough three times. They did that to see if I was hiding anything. I was there in a cell from about 9:30 am, and I was there until about four o’clock when some CIB officers came to transport me to Portmore. They handcuffed me and put my shirt over my head. I went into the vehicle and they started to threaten me,” he said.

“They were saying I shouldn’t turn in myself and I should have made them come for me. I am not a wanted man, so that’s why I turned in myself to clear my name. They said when they go to Portmore they are going to put me in a cell with murderers. They were there talking and talking until I reached Portmore and they carried me into a next holding area and they did the same procedure again which they did in Mandeville,” Gray said.

He told the Observer that when they placed him in the cell in Portmore he did not see the light of day again until about 5:00 pm the following day.

“They came for me and they put a shirt over my head again and they carried me into an office. A policeman asked me to explain what happened and I explained. Right there and then he picked up that it was mistaken identity,” Gray said.

He also said that the breakfast they provided for him comprised one dumpling and a small amount of tea. The lunch, he claimed, was filled with ants. As a result, he did not eat the food.

“The policeman said it was not his concern, and that I must eat it if I want it, but I just put it down. I thought that Saturday, which was visiting day, I would be able to see my parents and talk to them. The food my parents carried, they just pushed it through a hole in the grill,” he said.

“Thursday, [May 29] from mi go, mi nuh bathe. Friday mi nuh bathe. Saturday mi think the clothes would come. My parents sent the clothes and they didn’t give me, only just water and toothpaste that my mother sent, plus juice, food, and the body wash.

“Saturday, Sunday, the same procedure. They brought one dumpling and little tea in the morning. The food they carried at 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm was still filled with ants same way. They came for me and carried me in an office. My lawyer came on Saturday evening and I explained to him the whole situation. He said he spoke to a policeman and he said it was a mistaken identity. I asked him why I was in there so long. He said I shouldn’t be in there so long but he was working on it,” Gray said.

“It was a traumatic experience, because I am a hard-working, Christian youth. I am not involved in badness,” he told the Observer, adding that proper investigation was not done before his picture was posted on Wanted Wednesdays.