Cop arrested in Donna-Lee case

Yesterday, a tight-lipped Fitz Bailey, deputy commissioner of police, refused to disclose the charges likely to be proffered on police constable Noel Maitland, who was arrested yesterday in relation to the disappearance of his girlfriend and social media influencer Donna-lee Donaldson on July 13.

Maitland surrendered to officers from the Counter Terrorism and Organised Crime unit of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) yesterday in the presence of his attorney, Christopher Townsend. He said Maitland turned himself in at the invitation of the police at his office on Duke Street in downtown Kingston. A lengthy review of the case took place on Tuesday involving the JCF, the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and the Director of Public Prosecutions, Paula Llewellyn.

Bailey, via a video which was released by the JCF, said that "There was adequate evidence to link Constable Noel Maitland to the disappearance of Ms Donaldson", who was reportedly last seen at his apartment at Chelsea Manor in New Kingston on July 11. However, Bailey, who heads the security and crime portfolio within the JCF, was reluctant to state the charges.

"We not going into that right now in relation to charges of Ms Donaldson's disappearance. Not right now," said Bailey when he was contacted by THE STAR. Bailey also disclosed that the police do not have sufficient evidence to link the female district constable who has also been implicated in the matter. Both Maitland and the woman, with whom he shares a child, are scheduled to be questioned by INDECOM on August 3.

Townsend stated that he was not sure if his client would be charged and insisted that Maitland was fine amid rumours that he was experiencing a mental breakdown over the matter.

"I can't tell you what the JCF will do but I will hope that they will remain professional in their investigation and in the conduct of the matter. In the debriefing I indicated to him what was going to happen. Of course nobody takes that very well but the course of justice will takes its course. He is a police officer and so he understands," said Townsend.

There has been widespread outcry in the public domain over Donaldson's disappearance. Her relatives and friends have staged a series of protests demanding justice.