If the residents of Charlemont in St Catherine are speaking anything near the truth, then the two policemen who are being investigated for their alleged involvement in a gun salute will have a lot to explain.

On Tuesday, THE STAR reported that allegations are being investigated that two policemen were involved in a gun salute at a dance in the community on Saturday. The article stated that the dance was being held in celebration of a bar opening for a well-known don.

different version

However, irate residents of the community afterwards contacted THE WEEKEND STAR and sought to give their version of the story, which paints a rather corrupt picture.

The residents say there was no gun salute, but rather a barrage of shots which were fired to disperse the crowd in the hope that they would leave the dance and go to another venue, owned by the stepfather of one of the policemen.

"Not a thing nuh guh suh 'bout gun salute ... Di police dem not even know di man weh a keep di dance suh how dem fi a fire salute fi him?" a resident who claims to have witnessed the whole scenario, Ms Betty, questioned.

She said the policemen were simply trying to get the patrons to a go-go club which was not enjoying its usual number of patrons due to the keeping of the dance.

"Listen, is a big dance eno, di place block and 'cause everybody deh deh ... Nobody neva too deh a di go-go club suh a dat mek him come fire di shot dem inna di dance. Everybody from Charlemont know seh him step fada own the go-go club," Ms Betty explained.

Police say they are aware of the residents' claims, but add that it is too early to say which argument is correct as investigations are not yet complete.

gunshots

Reports said the Linstead police went to the dance in the wee hours of the morning after being alerted about gunshots being fired. After arriving, the cops saw two men who aroused their suspicion and they were searched.

The men were reportedly loud and boisterous and had to be taken to the Linstead Police Station, where a senior officer was called and their firearms taken.

Their hands were subsequently swabbed and the guns sent for forensic testing.