Man chains sick son to grille

Residents of March Pen Road, St Catherine, say they are relieved that a man who chained and beat his adult son, who is said to be mentally ill, is in police custody.

The man, identified as Isaac Higgins, 69, reportedly chained his 29-year-old son to the grille of their home and repeatedly beat him with a piece of board. According to residents, this has happened more than once and they believe Higgins may have some mental health issues.

"We want him gone from the community because he is dangerous not only to his own son but to residents," stated one resident. "A long time him behaving like a madman, threatening people ... and walking over to the church in his underwear disturbing the service."

The neighbour, who captured the beating on video and posted it on social media with the hope that the son would get some help, told THE STAR that he heard the screaming and looked over the zinc fence to see what was taking place.

"I saw the son butt naked chained by his neck to the grille and his father hitting him with a bat. Believe me if I didn't tell him to stop hit the youth, him woulda kill him," said the neighbour. Angry residents, incensed by what they saw on the video, tried to get the father out of the house but they were interrupted by the police who made similar attempts. But Higgins barricaded himself inside the house. The cops reportedly left but residents then attempted to cut the locks on grille. Higgins threw bottles and faeces at the crowd to keep them at bay.

This stand-off lasted for hours before residents finally managed to break the locks and forcibly removed him from the house. The police returned to take Higgins away from the angry crowd, who had inflicted injuries to his head and face.

However Higgins fought the police as they tried to place him in the back of the service vehicle. Higgins was eventually subdued and taken away.