Police assisted Skeng after he was pepper-sprayed, no animosity between them — Townsend
KINGSTON, Jamaica — There is no animosity between the police forces and dancehall sensation Skeng even after an incident at the airport yesterday when he was physically removed from a flight heading to Trinidad, his lawyer told OBSERVER ONLINE.
According to prominent attorney-at-law Christopher Townsend, police officers actually assisted the artiste after he was pepper-sprayed during a verbal confrontation at the Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston on Tuesday.
“The incident started with the security officers and not with the police as it is being reported. We feel that it was a situation that was totally uncalled for. He was asked to remove an item from his suitcase which he did, but the security officer began to tout him, ‘asking him who he thinks he is’, and with any hot-blooded young Jamaica, would have responded that you can’t talk to me that way, so the situation escalated,” Townsend told OBSERVER ONLINE.
Townsend said the police officers were “cordial” towards the artiste.
“We are unsure as to who pepper-sprayed him, whether it was the security guard or the police, but he was pepper-sprayed. But the police have been very nice and very cordial to him. When I got there yesterday, they were assisting him to mitigate the effects of the pepper spray on his body and his eyes, they were helping him to wash out his eyes,” Townsend added.
Although he was arrested and charged for disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest, Skeng was granted bail in his own surety.
The artiste’s management and legal teams are now scrambling to ensure that the artiste will be able to appear as the headlining act for Baderation alongside Shaneil Muir and Young Bredda set for May 27th in Guyana.
As was previously reported, the Gvnman Shift artiste was removed from a flight at the Norman Manley International Airport at about 1:50 p.m on Tuesday afternoon.
The 21-year-old artist, whose real name is Kevaun Douglas, was charged for disorderly behaviour and resisting arrest. He was offered bail and is to appear before the Kingston and St. Andrew court on June 21, 2022. These offences do not carry jail time and will appear in the petty sessions court.
READ: Skeng dragged off flight at airport after argument with port security
Skeng and two members of his entourage were expected to be on a flight to Trinidad and Tobago where he is scheduled to perform for the first time.
The two-day event, called ‘Revival: The Return of Dancehall’ was scheduled to happen this weekend at Ranch Setters in Valencia on May 28, and at Space La Nouba nightclub in San Fernando. Skeng was named the headliner for both dates.
Skeng is known for the single Protocol with Tommy Lee Sparta, Heaven Passport with Intence, Gvnman Shift, London and Street Cred.