A policeman attached to the Denham Town Police Station in Western Kingston, Constable Calvin Hemmings, is to return to the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court on Wednesday, March 8, to answer charges of attempting to pervert the course of justice.

THOMAS ... suspended Hemmings

Hemmings was arrested on January 25 and taken to court the same day, where he pleaded not guilty. He was granted $250,000 bail with surety to return to court in March, when the case will again be mentioned.

Hemmings was also served with a notice from Police Commissioner Lucius Thomas suspending him from the force.

Investigators from the police's Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) told the Observer that allegations against the cop are that on October 3, 2004, he was on an operation with other policemen in Bread Lane, Western Kingston, when he seized a 9mm Larcin pistol, loaded with 11 rounds of ammunition from a suspect's waistband.
The man was arrested and charged with illegal possession of firearm and ammunition.

According to the OPR, Hemmings wrote in the crime diary at the station that he had removed the gun from the accused waistband, however in a written statement on the matter - which formed part of the case file that was submitted to the Gun Court - Hemmings wrote that he had found the loaded illegal weapon 10 feet away from the accused.

PANTRY ... ruled that Hemmings be arrested and charged

Observing the inconsistency, the police launched an investigation into the matter, and asked Hemmings to write a statement explaining why he had given two different accounts concerning where the gun was found.

But investigators said the cop blatantly refused to write a statement.
The completed file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions Kent Pantry for advice.

Pantry then ruled that Hemmings be arrested and charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice.
He was arrested on Wednesday and immediately hauled before the Half- Way-Tree Criminal Court for unprofessional conduct.

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