ST ANN, Jamaica – Sometimes, the police get in the news for the wrong reasons. On Friday, Nov 4, 2022, a police corporal was arrested after allegedly becoming intoxicated and pointing his service pistol at a security guard, among other persons, at a hotel in Runaway Bay, St Ann.
It is alleged that he became inebriated and started to behave improperly before being confronted by a security officer. After being confronted by the security officer, the corporal reportedly pointed his gun at the guard and other persons.
The security manager of the hotel reportedly then intervened, confiscated the cop’s firearm and summoned the Runaway Bay Police.
Upon the arrival of the police, the firearm was handed over to them and the corporal handcuffed and taken to the Runaway Bay Police Station.
It was unclear up to publication time if charges were laid against the cop.
Commentary/Analysis
Now, these are serious allegations, and nobody should take them lightly. However, neither should we jump to conclusions because this story does not appear clear-cut as it sounds.
If the incident had happened as described, it was a serious security breach that could have caused the loss of lives, including the policeman. And the corporal should be held accountable.
But the story might have been fabricated. Because I am having a hard time wrapping my head around why the policeman pointed his service pistol at a security guard and not at the person that disarmed him. It is easy to conclude that the person that disarmed the corporal was a more significant threat than the security guard.
Something happened clearly, but I doubt how the hotel described it. The corporal was at the hotel incognito. He had too much to drink and became a little rudy. Security tried to kick him out, and he pulled his gun. The guard backed off and called for help. When help came, the policeman had already reholstered his pistol, continued incognito, and refused to leave the premises.
Then the security manager and the guard teamed up, overpowered the policeman, and disarmed him. After security disarmed him, he revealed his identity. Realizing that he violated the cop, the security manager fabricated a story and called 119.