Police officer charged in 2021 shooting released after no case submission | RJR News

By Kimone Witter

A police officer was released Monday on charges of unlawful wounding and making a false statement, contrary to Section 33 of the INDECOM Act, following a dismissal of the case by his lawyers in the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Court.

Kemmar Hutchinson, 35, was charged with shooting a man in the Love Lane/Charles Street area of ​​Kingston on February 28, 2021.

It is reported that on that day, Officer Hutchinson was traveling with another police officer in a service vehicle when he saw the complainant walking and behaving suspiciously.

The man allegedly tried to flee and disobeyed orders to stop.

In his statement to INDECOM, Officer Hutchinson said he shot the complainant after the complainant pulled a gun from his waist and pointed it in his direction.

The prosecution relied on closed-circuit television footage that captured part of the altercation.

However, during the trial, lawyers Peter Champagnie, KC and Samoi Campbell argued that critical aspects of the incident were not fully captured in the video shown in court.

They also noted that there was evidence that the complainant had been charged with illegal possession of a firearm and assault after a firearm was recovered from him during the incident.

At the time, an arrest warrant was also issued against him.