News

Spanish Town residents protest police shooting

By RASBERT TURNER, Star Writer

A police officer removes a tree limb which was used to block the Spanish Town bypass yesterday. - Norman Grindley

SPANISH TOWN

IT WAS A cat and mouse game between police and protesters in Spanish Town, St. Catherine, yesterday, as roadblocks on the Spanish Town bypass, mounted by the residents, were cleared by the police, only to be remounted again.

The residents, who were protesting against the killing of Tareq Jones who was shot dead by a policeman on Tuesday night, at one point said they would not block the road again. But as soon as the cops left, trees, tyres, boards, zinc and other debris were brought back into the road.

At one point, the demonstration got 'dirty' after a policeman pushed one of the protesters. This resulted in the police coming under attack and they had to use tear gas to clear the crowd. As a result of the protest, traffic was diverted through Spanish Town.

When THE STAR visited the area of concern, several heavily armed policemen tried to clear the blockage.

In the meanwhile, the residents, who were protesting for the second consecutive day, have vowed to return to the street until the policeman, who is implicated in the killing, is brought to justice.