Jamaican Minister Says Police Pepper-Sprayed Him

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Local Government and Community Development Minister Desmond McKenzie said Tuesday that he was pepper-sprayed by a police officer while attempting to calm residents of his West Kingston constituency following a police shooting earlier that day.

The shooting occurred shortly before 7 a.m. local time and led to a tense standoff, with residents accusing police of using excessive force. Police had not released details about the shooting as of Tuesday.

Speaking on a radio program, McKenzie said he went to the community in an effort to prevent the situation from escalating. “When I came, the community was very upset because they are saying men who were going to work were abused by the police,” he said, adding that he urged residents to allow police to continue their operation.

McKenzie said a crowd gathered as he spoke with a senior officer. “This young lady said something. I don’t know what she said to the police, but the police attempted to hold her. She ran behind me,” he said. He said that when he intervened, an officer pepper-sprayed him.

“I said to the policeman, ‘Hold on,’ and the policeman proceeded to pepper-spray me,” McKenzie said. Video showed bystanders pouring water and milk over his face to ease the effects of the spray. Footage of the incident has since circulated widely online.

McKenzie said the incident was especially troubling given what he described as a longstanding, positive relationship between police and West Kingston residents. “We have had a very good relationship with the police here in West Kingston,” he said. “But an incident like this this morning is not something I can tolerate or condone.”

He said he did not want to be treated differently because of his position. “You pepper-sprayed me as an ordinary Jamaican… Don’t think about me as a Member of Parliament or because of who I am. If I did something, you had a right to pepper-spray me, and there was no need for the police to use pepper spray.”

Jamaican police have not yet issued a statement regarding either the shooting or the pepper-spraying of the minister.