JCF Officer Charged for Breach of INDECOM Act

JCF Officer Charged – Sergeant Oswald Francis was granted bail in the sum of $400,000.00. The JCF officer was placed before the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court on October 12, to answer to a charge for the offence of wounding with intent. This charge was a result of an investigation by the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) and a ruling by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP).

INDECOM commenced an investigation into a road traffic accident resulting in a fatality in January 2015 along Spring Garden Main Road, Westmoreland. It was reported that police officers were conducting spot checks when the deceased was approaching the area on a motorcycle, turned around and proceeded in the other direction, and eventually crashed. Officers at the scene fired in the direction of the man on the motorcycle.  During the investigation, Constable Shakes denied discharging his firearm at the scene. Forensic evidence contradicted Constable Shakes’ account and confirmed that recovered cartridge casings from the scene were fired from a firearm issued to Constable Shakes.  Constable Shakes was therefore charged for willfully making a false statement to mislead the Commission.
The matter is set for mention on November 2, 2021.

Sergeant Francis was charged in relation to the shooting injury of his relative on June 13, 2020, following a domestic dispute. The incident occurred on Swallowfield Road in Kingston.