Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Press Association Calls for Immediate Investigation into Assault on Newspaper Photographer by Police

I am distressed to hear of this assault on my gentle colleague, Gleaner photographer Rudolph Brown. I wish him a speedy recovery. Below is a Statement from PAJ President Dionne Jackson-Miller.

Press Association Calls for Immediate Investigation into Assault on Newspaper Photographer by Police


February 14, 2018: The Press Association of Jamaica is calling on the Police High Command and INDECOM to launch an immediate investigation into reports of an unprovoked assault by the police on newspaper photographer Rudolph Brown on Tuesday, February 13, 2018.

Mr. Brown has reported to us that while in the Cross Roads area, he witnessed a commotion apparently caused by attempts by the police to arrest a man. He started to use his phone to record the incident. On being told to stop by the police sergeant on location, he says he clearly identified himself as a member of the media, both verbally and by showing his company ID card which was around his neck.

Mr. Brown says he continued to record the proceedings and heard the police sergeant tell a constable to pepper spray him. He says the police constable sprayed pepper spray directly into his eyes, causing him severe pain and distress, which continued for hours and worsened later in the evening.

The Press Association of Jamaica condemns unequivocally this blatant abuse of force by the police, and calls for an immediate investigation and response by the Police High Command and INDECOM.

Dionne Jackson Miller

President

PAJ



-- 
"A Free Press, Oxygen of Democracy"


Jean Lowrie-Chin

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