Inmates and police officer shot in lock-up

The Freeport Police Station in Montego Bay was a hotbed of excitement on Saturday night as a prisoner reportedly disarmed a police officer on the cell block and then used the weapon to shoot a fellow prisoner and the lawman.

Following a protracted stand-off, which lasted almost four hours, the prisoner reportedly surrendered the weapon, which he had initially used to keep the police officers at bay after the shooting.A trusted source gave THE STAR a 'blow by blow' account.

"Hell a pop a Freeport Police Station ... a prisoner disarm a policeman and a buss shot pon the cell block," the caller said. "The police dem a run out of the building ... a pandemonium. It look like the prisoner is on the loose on the station compound with the gun." When THE STAR rushed to the location, the officers were seemingly in a state of panic. Some officers, in the presence of the media, questioned why a police officer would go on the cell block with a firearm, knowing that it was against their operational policy to do so. During the stand-off, members of the military, officers from the Independent Commission of Investigations, a pastor, and two units from the St James Fire Brigade came to the location amid a flurry of activities. No one came to speak to the media, despite repeated attempts for an official account.

On Sunday, an incident report from the Jamaica Constabulary Force indicated that a brawl between five inmates led to one being stabbed. When officers responded, one of the lawmen placed his firearm under a desk in an area near the cell block before joining the response effort. The injured prisoner was later put in the same area, and allegedly took the weapon and pointed it at one of the cops, demanding the cell block gate be opened. The policeman reportedly acquiesced. The armed prisoner then allegedly shot one of the prisoners before firing more shots in the cell area. A policeman was grazed by a bullet. A cop fired at the prisoner, hitting him in the upper body and left foot, the report said. The prisoner then reportedly threw the gun on the floor which was retrieved by the other cops. The injured cop and the two prisoners were taken to the Cornwall Regional Hospital for treatment.