Police Beat Dr. Ford - why dem never say "allegedly"?

[Mosiah]

Police beat Dr Ford
published: Tuesday | April 10, 2007


Dr. Jephtah Ford - rudolph brown/chief photographer
Ross Sheil, Staff Reporter
Prominent medical doctor, Jephtah Ford, who is known for providing free treatment to members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), was yesterday placed on 24-hour observation at the Kingston Public Hospital (KPH) after being allegedly beaten by three police officers early Monday morning.
Dr. Ford was listed in a serious but stable condition.
He had reportedly intervened in a between police and his sister, Andrea Ford, about 4:00 a.m., at his Fun Citi venue in Port Henderson, Portmore, which was hosting the 'Wet, Wet' Party on Sunday night.
Standing outside the KPH late yesterday morning, Ms. Ford, who manages Fun Citi on behalf of her brother, had received treatment to a cut to her face and right elbow,7 while her left upper arm was heavily bruised. Her shirt, pants and white sneakers smattered with blood; she was visibly shaken and too distraught to talk.
Dr. Ford's lawyer, Marjorie Shaw-Currie said the family were yet to decide on a course of action.
Drew licensed firearm
Mrs. Shaw-Currie said she understood that Andrea was prevented from entering the venue by the police who were working as security guards for the promoters of 'Wet, Wet'. The guards apparently thought she was unfairly trying to get free admission for people into the event.
Dr. Ford intervened and drew his licensed firearm in defence of his sister, said his lawyer. However, when the men identified themselves as police officers, he replaced the firearm in its holster. They then took it and began to beat him.
He was reportedly handcuffed twice and driven to the Greater Portmore Police Station where he was again beaten.
"The nature of the beatings suggest there was an intent to do him grievous bodily harm," said Mrs. Shaw-Currie.
Charges laid
She said that she had been contacted by the station just before 5:00 p.m. yesterday and told Dr. Ford had been charged with assault at common law and illegal possession of firearm and ammunition. She said the station also told her that the charges were laid at 5:00 a.m., but this suggests a discrepancy since there was no police guard on Dr. Ford.
He and his sister had been taken by relatives to KPH in the morning from where he was taken to the University Hospital of the West Indies for an X-ray. He was then transferred back to KPH.
Relatives expressed shock at the treatment meted out to Dr. Ford; with several relatives themselves members of the JCF and his father a former policeman. Sharing a medical practice with his twin brother Japheth, located on Red Hills Road, St. Andrew, they are popular practitioners; the brothers working 12-hour shifts back to back against each other, sometimes treating for free, those who cannot afford to pay.
The JCF's Director of Communi-cations, Karl Angell, said the incident was under investigation by the Criminal Investigations Branch (CIB). Efforts to gain further information from police were unsuccessful.
Dr. Ford is a former two-time People's National Party (PNP) candidate for North Western St. Andrew, a constituency held by Opposition Spokesman on National Security, Derrick Smith. ross.sheil@gleanerjm.com

[Mosiah]

Cops beat Jephthah Ford
Former PNP candidate hospitalisedKARYL WALKER, Observer staff reporter
Tuesday, April 10, 2007

The sign on the wall by the gate indicates that Fun City beach at Port Henderson in St Catherine, which usually attracts hundreds of holiday swimmers, is closed hours after former People's National Party caretaker for North Central St Andrew, Dr Jephthah Ford (inset), who operates the beach under a lease agreement, was allegedly beaten unconscious by off-duty cops at a dance there Sunday night. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)
Former People's National Party (PNP) caretaker for North Central St Andrew Dr Jephthah Ford is now in hospital after being allegedly mauled by police at a dance gate at Port Henderson in St Catherine on Easter Sunday night.
Ford reportedly underwent surgery and a battery of tests yesterday as a result of the battering which ended with him receiving head and chest injuries.
Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas yesterday ordered a probe into the incident and assigned head of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Assistant Commissioner Denver Frater, the responsibility of leading the investigation.
The Professional Standards Branch (PSB) also commenced a probe into the incident.
"I understand he was in an operation at the Kingston Public Hospital and should have undergone further tests at the University Hospital," Superintendent Dayton Henry of the PSB told the Observer yesterday of Dr Ford.
According to a sound system staff member who worked at the Wet Wet Reggae Soca Affair at the Fun City Beach, which Ford operates under a lease agreement, the police were allegedly moonlighting as security staff at the entrance to the dance when an altercation developed between them and Ford's sister.
"They wanted to bring some people into the dance, but the police didn't let them in," said the sound system man, who claimed he witnessed the incident. "They left and went for Mr Ford because he runs the premises."
The man claimed that when Ford arrived on the scene, he became embroiled in a heated argument with the cops who relieved Ford of his licensed firearm and began raining blows all over his body.
"They didn't have to behave so bad because he's a big old man," said the sound system man. "Them beat him like a slave until him almost dead."
Ford was allegedly taken to the Greater Portmore Police Station in an unconscious state where he was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and assault, before being taken to hospital.
The cops involved in the altercation were, up to yesterday afternoon, not interviewed by the PSB.
"We have not been able to speak to them yet as they are not stationed in Portmore," Superintendent Henry said, adding that the PSB would look into allegations that the cops were 'roasting' during their off-duty hours.
"If it is found that they were doing that, then they would be slapped with charges, but we need evidence, we can't send a man to court on rumours," he said. (They have no problem killing "suspects", however.)
In the meantime, PNP General-Secretary Donald Buchanan said he had ordered his deputy, Julian Robinson, to look into the incident.
"We will be awaiting the outcome of these investigations," Buchanan said.
Yesterday, the Fun City Beach was closed to the public. A sign, written on a folder leaf, read 'Beach closed for today'. Two men who peered from behind a locked metal gate refused to answer queries from the Observer and only responded by shaking their heads.

[Lazie]

By the way, the police man that was beaten by (I think the Salem) police and eventually died, was anybody charged for his death?

[Mosiah]

I'll give you one guess, Lazie.

Of course not!!!! It's simply amazing how no one can be charged for the death of that policeman. But, this is Jamaica.

If they can beat people like Dr. Ford and his sister like that, two elderly people, what would they do with you and I?

Thank God for JFJ and for Dr. Carolyn Gomes!

I see where gunmen allegedly killed a policeman yesterday. Normally, I would be feeling very sad about yet another of our "peace officers" losing his life like this. Frankly, right about now, I don't! And that is sad, because he could really be one of the few good ones.

[Rockman]

Perhaps those who insist on thinking they know more than the 'massive' should get tattoos on their foreheads declaring they by virtue of their status are not one of the poor, disenfranchised Jakans, and as such should be treated accordingly.
KD Knight was one of Adams' supporters until someone from his circles was scorched by lead.



Blessed

[Rockman]

Both stories now appear inextricably linked.Please note, ""Nobody fired on them.,"
This is the basis on which the claim of friendly fire is made and perhaps substantiated. Why the police discharged their weapons recklessly?



Cop killed by 'friendly fire'?
Residents claim constable slain by colleagues - Police await ballistic test on bullet

Wednesday, April 11, 2007


Police yesterday appeared to back-track from earlier claims that Constable Mark Haughton was killed by gunmen, amidst accusations by residents that he was hit by gun fire from his colleagues, in what could be a rare case of 'friendly fire'.
At the same time, all the cops who were involved in the operation at Payne Avenue, the depressed South West St Andrew community, had their hands swabbed and statements taken from them, reliable sources told the Observer.
"We are not saying he was killed by friendly fire or by gunmen," said Deputy Superintendent Michael Phipps, head of the St Andrew South Crime Division.
"We will await the result of a ballistic test on the bullet and then we will have enough evidence to pinpoint which gun killed him," Phipps said.
A post-mortem conducted on Haughton's body yesterday revealed that he died as a result of a single shot which entered his back, ricocheted off his spine and lodged in his liver.
The 25-year-old constable died about six hours after he was shot on Sunday night.
Phipps' comments seemed to be a retreat from the police report the day before that gunmen had killed Haughton, who was on patrol.
Residents of Payne Avenue, a violence-prone enclave in the prime minister's constituency, were insistent yesterday that the cops "killed their own man and want to blame us for it".
"Nobody fired on them.," claimed an outspoken woman, speaking for the residents.
The residents said the fact that the constable was shot in his back was "proof" that he was not killed by a gunman's bullet.
"The policeman was leading the patrol. He was at the front, so a must one a dem kill him. Them must admit that it was an accident and maintain their morality," another resident said.
The residents also claimed that the cops were taunting the community and expressed fears that they could be targets of the police who may be seeking revenge.