THE police were yesterday questioning a man they believe to be a member of the notorious Joel Andem gang, after he turned up at the Lawrence Tavern police station suffering from gunshot wounds, following a shoot-out between the police and gunmen in Temple Hall Friday night.

The man, whose name the police have not released, claimed he was driving a taxi in the area when he was held up and shot by gunmen. The police took the man to hospital for treatment but later took him in for questioning.

They believe the man is one of several men who engaged them in a shoot-out after the Toyota Corolla motor car in which they were travelling was signalled to stop by cops carrying out an operation in the rural St Andrew community at about 7:00 pm. However, instead of complying, the men opened fire at the police and they fired back. The men abandoned the car and escaped in nearby bushes. The police discovered bloodstains in the car, along with articles of clothing and medication which they say belonged to Andem.

A Jamaica Defence Force helicopter was called in to help with the search which continued until after midnight Friday, but the men were not found. The injured man, about 38 years old, turned up at the Lawrence Tavern Police Station at about 3:00 am, claiming to have been shot by gunmen. He was injured in the right arm and buttocks.

The Andem gang came to pubic attention weeks ago after local television aired a video seized in a raid on the gang’s camp, in which Andem, his girlfriend and other cronies posed with guns and threatened to kill policemen. The gang is believed to be responsible for at least 20 murders including that of gas station operator, Sylvia Edwards who was abducted in July 2000 and a $200,000 ransom demanded for her release.

Her body was found in the University Heights area a day later, buried in a shallow grave.

Her brother-in-law was shot and killed near the gas station last November, a day before he was expected to give evidence in the kidnapping.

Andem is also wanted for the murder of a district constable, 56 year-old James Thompson, who was killed in Papine, St Andrew last month.