Plain clothes cop shoots man during robbery

A man who allegedly tried to rob a plain clothes policeman and was shot in the process, is now in police custody.

The incident took place in Montego Bay, St James, on Tuesday afternoon.

The police say they are unable to release the identity of the accused at this early stage, as he may have to face an identification parade.

Reports by the Freeport police are that about 8:30 p.m., the constable was walking along Port Avenue, in the direction of the Freeport Police Station where he is stationed.

On reaching a section of the roadway, a motor car with two men on board, pulled up beside him. The cop was asked if he wanted a taxi.

Before he could respond, one man armed with a handgun jumped out, and held him at gunpoint.

The man demanded that the cop hand over his wallet, cell phone and a head set which he was wearing.

After robbing him, the perpetrator was in the process of boarding the motor car when the lawman pulled his licensed firearm and challenged him.

The robber received gunshot wounds but managed to jump back into the getaway car which sped away.

The lawman went to the Freeport station and made a report.

An investigation was later carried out at the Cornwall Regional Hospital where a man fitting the description of the armed robber turned up at the hospital to be treated for gunshot wounds.

He was interviewed and after being unable to tell how and where he was shot, he was immediately placed under police guard.

A police source told THE STAR that they have been on the trail of armed robbers posing as taxi operators and robbing persons transacting business on the Fairview shopping complex for some time now.