Landlady claims police-tenant romance led to illegal detention

A Kingston businesswoman says she narrowly escaped an unlawful arrest, alleging that a police officer, romantically involved with her tenant, orchestrated the arrest in the middle of a heated landlady-tenant dispute.

She claims that the ordeal began when she discovered her property had been tampered with after she installed a padlock on an open gate for safety reasons. She reported the matter to the police, and the tenant was charged with destruction of property. But the next day, the tables turned when the landady herself was detained at her house.

According to the businesswoman, the cop involved had started a "24-hour love affair" with her tenant, who was at the station the night before.

On the night of the alleged detention, about 8:30, the landlady said she was startled by knocks at her gate and shouts from a policeman.

"It was dark outside when four armed police officers stood at my gate, M16s in hand, demanding I come out," she recounted. "Without a warrant, one of them told me I was under arrest, but wouldn't say why."

When she asked for an explanation, she said the cop threatened her, saying, "'If you don't get in the vehicle, I'll force you in. You'll hear why you're arrested when you get to the station'."

The businesswoman described the encounter as terrifying and humiliating.

"I was verbally abused, denied my rights. When I asked to change my clothes, he shouted at me and said I couldn't. I was scared for my life," she said.

Upon arrival at the station, she said that she was interrogated by the same cop who had questioned her about the padlock that her tenant allegedly damaged. After two and a half hours of grilling, the other cops reviewed the situation and determined there was no legal basis for her arrest. She was released without charges.

Reflecting on the ordeal, she said, "If that police knew that I had the ability to call and go to who I need to go to and was knowledgeable of the law the way l was, he would have carried me somewhere else. I swear to God that he would have tried to hurt me or kill me".

The landlady fears this may not be an isolated incident. "Can you imagine how many other innocent people them rinse through the system?" she asked, voicing her concern that others might not know how to stand up to such abuse.

The businesswoman has reported the matter to the Independent Commission of Investigations, the body that investigates allegations of abuse committed by members of the security forces.

"This officer needs to be suspended. If we have rogue cops like this operating on impulse, Jamaica is in serious trouble," the landlady warned.

"Every time I come home, I'm paranoid. I'm watching to see if someone's following me, standing by the gate, or looking suspicious. I don't know what they might have planned."

The landlady provided a copy of a receipt, dated September 2, which indicated that she had made a report concerning malfeasance to the Jamaica Constabulary Force's Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau. Malfeasance is intentional conduct that is wrongful or unlawful, especially by officials or public employees.