Female cop charged in rape case

A female police constable has been charged in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged case of rape and robbery in Black River, St Elizabeth, for which another member of the Jamaica Constabulary Force has been implicated.

Lavern Hendricks, 44, of Ginger Hill district, in the parish, is charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice and misconduct in a public office. Reports are that on June 30, a woman was stopped during a vehicle checkpoint operation and a breach of the Road Traffic Act was detected. Constable Alwayne Hill, who was previously charged, allegedly solicited money in exchange for not prosecuting the woman. She was taken to an automated teller machine and was subsequently sexually assaulted. The woman made a report to Woman Constable Hendricks who was on duty. However, Hendricks told the woman to lie in exchange for money. Hendricks also reportedly gave a false statement to colleagues, who had subsequently launched an investigation.

The report was elevated to a senior investigator and a case file was prepared and submitted to the director of public prosecutions, who recommended that Hill and Hendricks be charged. Hill was previously charged with rape, grievous sexual assault, forcible abduction, corruptly soliciting and simple larceny regarding this incident. Hendricks' court date is being arranged.