Mistaken identity Man who was incorrectly identified as robbery suspect living in fear

A bearer and construction worker says he has been living in fear since July 8, after a photograph of him was released online stating that he was one of the men involved in the robbery and shooting of a female pump attendant.

The man said not only was he not involved, but he was nowhere close to the incident, which he said was supported by video footage. He said although his photograph was removed from the Jamaica Constabulary Force’s (JCF) social media pages, he is living a life of torment.

“I am afraid because persons are saying that they want to kill mi and I am being threatened by police and so on. I am very fearful for my life because my picture was posted all over the place,” he said.

Hours after the pump attendant was robbed and shot at a gas station on Deanary Road, the police released a collage of three men, including the man, and urged them to turn themselves in. The following day, the lawmen reported that two of the men who were linked to the incident were fatally shot during a police operation in Spanish Town, St Catherine.

The man said the photograph that has been circulating on social media was taken outside a bar in another section of the Corporate Area days before the robbery. He said he believed that his picture was taken by the bar’s operators after their place was robbed by men on the day that the attendant was shot. On the day he visited the bar, he won money on a gaming box.

“That was the money that I had in my hand in the photo,” he said. The man said that after learning that his photograph was being circulated, he went to the Olympic Gardens Police Station to clear his name

“One of the police told that they knew it wasn’t me so I should go and trim because the hairstyle let me look like a criminal. I went back home but I still felt wary, so the next morning I went to IPROB (Inspectorate and Professional Standards Oversight Bureau) to make a report. They then contacted Elletson Road police for me. Next thing I know is that another station was contacted and I was locked up at Duhaney Park station for eight days before I was released,” he said.

The man said other inmates threatened him, believing he shot the attendant.

“But it was a blessing when I went inside and saw someone that I know and he was there defending mi and a say mi a good youth,” he added.

The 24-year-old said he was released on pre-charge bail on reasonable suspicion of having committed the offence of wounding with intent and robbery with aggravation. He said a part of his bail condition requires to report to the police twice weekly.

“I can’t go anywhere and I have lost my jobs. Persons are looking at me like I am a criminal. I will never be a criminal and I am very sorry about what happened to the attendant,” he said.

The man’s sister said the entire family is being affected, and they feel like a target is on their backs.

“Some are saying that if they catch him they are going to do him things,” she said. “My brother is sugar coating it but he is very traumatised. He has lost a lot of contracts as a bearer. He is not a criminal and does not have a criminal background and we won’t stand for it. He is just a regular youth that you see every day.”

The family has since sought legal counsel from attorney-at-law Kymberli Whitter who says her client should not have been placed on a pre-charge bail, as the police concluded that he was not a participant in the robbery.

“Pre-charge bail was intended by parliament to facilitate genuine investigations where there are reasonable grounds to suspect an individual of an offence. It was not imposed [to place] months of restrictions on someone who is not a suspect and has been vindicated by a solid alibi,” she said.