Accused yam thief shot after allegedly attacking cops with machete
TRELAWNY, Jamaica— A 38-year-old man, who police reportedly caught stealing yam, was shot and injured when he attacked one of the officers with a machete.
The man, a farmer from Thompson Town district in Wait-a-bit, Trelawny, was hospitalised under police guard. He is expected to be charged with praedial larceny and assault at common law.
Information reaching OBSERVER ONLINE indicates that around 7:10 pm last Friday, the police responded to information about thieves digging yam at a field in the community, and on arrival, caught two men in the act.
One of the men reportedly used a machete and swung at a member of the police party, who took evasive action and discharged one round in his direction, hitting him to his right upper body.
The other man, the police said, escaped on foot. The injured man was taken to the hospital, where he was admitted in stable condition.
Police have since launched a search for the other man.