US diplomat robbed in Jamaica

(Jamaica Gleaner) The Jamaican police yesterday refused to discuss an incident in the upscale St Andrew community of Jacks Hill, last Friday, in which a United States (US) diplomat was robbed at gunpoint of cash and “sensitive” US Embassy documents.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Ealan Powell said he was aware of the incident, but declined to comment further.

“I took a decision that I am not going to discuss it,” said Powell, who is in charge of the Criminal Investigation Branch.

Several attempts to get a comment from the US Embassy in St Andrew were unsuccessful.

A senior investigator at the Constant Spring Police Station confirmed the incident, but said detectives have not been able to interview the diplomat.

“We are yet to interview the diplomat involved because he was too traumatised to speak, but a formal report is expected to be submitted to officials in the US soon,” the investigator told The Gleaner.

Valuables stolen

The diplomat, said to be a senior male official at the embassy, was unharmed in the incident, but had J$25,000, a BlackBerry phone and the documents taken during the robbery.

One man has been taken into police custody in connection with the incident.

Reports from the Constabulary Communication Network are that about 9:15 p.m. the US official was a passenger in an embassy car travelling on Jacks Hill Road.

The vehicle developed mechanical problems and had to stop along the road. Shortly after, a silver car pulled up and several gunmen reportedly alighted and held up the diplomat and the driver.

Reports are that they were quickly challenged in a shoot-out by a passing police patrol.

The gunmen attempted to flee the scene, but their getaway car was found crashed on nearby Sunset Boulevard.

When the shooting ended, the police say one man, who is well known to them and who was recently granted bail on a previous gun charge, was held at the scene.