Lawyers calls for probe of police beating of Trelawny man caught on video

The attorney for a Trelawny man who claimed that he was kicked all over his body by cops during an incident captured by cell phone video, then set free without criminal charges, has signalled that he will seek full justice for his client.

Nickholos Chambers, 28, said the incident happened in the community of Rio Bueno on March 13, according to his attorney Donnovan Collins.

A one-minute-and-48-second-long video posted on social media shows Chambers being kicked repeatedly by three policemen – two of them in full denim uniforms – as he stood near a car.

Two of the cops wrestled the man to the ground before all three again kicked and punched him repeatedly and struck him several times with what appears to be a baton as a small crowd gathered around them.

It is unclear what triggered the incident.

Calls to Superintendent Velonique Campbell, commanding officer for the Trelwany police, went unanswered.

Collins said his client was taken from the scene in a police service vehicle, but was later released without any criminal charges.

“It is unfortunate how some JCF officers continue to abuse our citizens,” he told The Gleaner on Wednesday, making reference to the Jamaica Constabulary Force.

He appealed for the “urgent” intervention of National Security Minister Dr Horace Chang and Police Commissioner Dr Kevin Blake, saying “it is clear that something must be done to prevent this kind of abuse of Jamaican citizens.

The attorney said his client plans to make a full report to the Independent Commission of Investigations and the police's Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau.

In addition, Collins said his “firm” instruction is to file a lawsuit on behalf of his client.

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