Desmond McKenzie alleges officer pepper-sprayed him during West Kingston police action

West Kingston Member of Parliament and Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie alleges a Jamaica Constabulary Force officer pepper-sprayed him early Tuesday as he sought to quiet unrest after a police shooting in his constituency.

The clash came shortly before 7 a.m., when the shooting left the community agitated and some residents claiming officers had used more force than necessary. In an interview with Nationwide News Network, McKenzie said he hurried to the scene to settle nerves and stop the mood from worsening.

"When I came, the community was very upset because they are saying men who were going to work were abused by the police," he said.

McKenzie said he asked people to stay calm and let the operation continue, then headed to Spanish Town Road to confer with a senior officer. While they spoke, he said, a throng formed around them.

"When I was there talking, the crowd started to gather and everybody started to make noise... This young lady said something. I don't know what she said to the police, but the police attempted to hold her. She ran behind me," McKenzie recounted.

He said he stepped in next. "I said to the policeman, hold on, the policeman proceed to pepper-spray me," he said.

According to McKenzie, the officer afterwards asked if he wanted medical care at hospital; he refused. He called the episode disappointing, pointing to the usually constructive ties between the Constabulary and West Kingston residents.

"We have had a very good relationship with the police here in West Kingston. We enjoy that relationship, and we have no problem with the residents of the community," he said.

Footage of the encounter has since spread widely online.

"But an incident like this this morning is not something I can tolerate or condone. You pepper-sprayed me as an ordinary Jamaican... Don't think about me as a Member of Parliament or because of who I am. If I did something, you had a right to pepper-spray me, and there was no need for the police to use pepper-spray," McKenzie added.

The Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM) has been told about the police shooting and has opened a probe into how it happened. The condition of the person hit by police fire was not known at the time of reporting. The Constabulary had not yet explained what prompted the shooting.