Man dashes from police station and escapes custody

An attempt by police officers attached to the Half-Way Tree Police Station in St Andrew to arrest a Corporate Area man, who had four outstanding traffic warrants, escalated to a daring daylight chase through the busy thoroughfare of Maxfield Avenue.

The details of how the drama unfolded were shared in the Kingston and St Andrew Parish Court on Wednesday. It is alleged that on May 14, police on patrol on Hagley Park Road noticed a motorist committing breaches of the Road Traffic Act and intercepted the vehicle.

Richards, the driver of the vehicle, was notified of the traffic offences and during checks of the system, it was discovered that he had four outstanding warrants.

Richards was immediately taken into custody at the Half-Way Tree Police Station, but while waiting to be processed, he reportedly ran from the station onto Maxfield Avenue. Allegations state further that Richards ran to Hagley Park Plaza, in the vicinity of a lawyer's office, which is on the compound, and attempted to escape in a waiting motor vehicle. He was subsequently captured. When cautioned, he said, "A so it go offica."

"A so it go? Really, Mr Richards?" questioned presiding Judge Carlo Mason, who chuckled at hearing the jaw-dropping allegations. The judge was further shocked when Richards maintained his innocence in the face of the allegations.

"It wasn't nothing like that, Your Honour. Nothing like what them say," Richards stressed.

Richards, who is unrepresented, is currently on bail. He is set to return to court on June 19, when the matter will be mentioned.