The Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) High Command has made several management changes in the St Elizabeth division in the wake of eight inmates escaping from the Black River Lock-up on Monday, June 19, 2023.

According to a media release on Friday, June 23, 2023, the divisional head, Superintendent Kenneth Chin, has been reassigned to Area Three Headquarters.

And Deputy Superintendent of Police Coleridge Minto will immediately assume duties as commanding officer for the division.

The High Command has also replaced the administration officer, operations officer, and other supervisory positions at the station level.

“These changes will facilitate a thorough and unimpeded investigation into the circumstances leading to the inmates’ escape as the investigation progresses. In addition, leadership has also placed two JCF members on interdiction pending further inquiries,” the High Command explained.

JCF High Command

Further, the Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau is leading a comprehensive management review of the division.

“The relevant video footage has been secured and is being reviewed while our scenes of crime unit have visited the location and collected essential evidence. This will allow us to assess the underlying causes of the escape and evaluate the degree of adherence, over time, to JCF Policies and Guidelines,” it stated.

JCF High Command

Preliminary reports indicated the inmates escaped custody by cutting through a ventilation grille at the back of the cell.

Bus conductor arrested, driver absconded after Corporate Area police chase.

The police have taken a corporate area bus conductor into custody. And they are searching for the driver who led them on a chase throughout sections of the Corporate Area Friday afternoon, June 23, 2023.

The police have taken a corporate area bus conductor into custody. And they are searching for the driver who led them on a chase throughout sections of the Corporate Area Friday afternoon, June 23, 2023.

According to the Law enforcement officers, a Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) member raised the alarm after he reportedly saw numerous students smoking on the bus as it drove along Slipe Road in downtown Kingston, with music blasting. 

The police officers signaled the bus to stop, but the driver sped off. The police gave chase. The chase reportedly went up and down Slipe Road, into Cross Roads, and onto Marescaux Road before the police cornered the bus near Connolley Road. 

According to the police, aside from the bus driver and the conductor, they saw several students darting from the vehicle with uniforms reportedly undone. 

After concluding a search on the bus, the police seized marijuana, other smoking paraphernalia, and condoms.

The police later found the conductor hiding in bushes and arrested him.

The bus plies the downtown Kingston to Lawrence Tavern route.