The Tribune

By KHRISNA VIRGIL

Tribune Staff Reporter

kvirgil@tribunemedia.net

A MONTEL Heights family is terrified that their house was caught in a hail of bullets following what they claimed was a stand off between police officers and a man they were chasing.

Speaking with The Tribune yesterday, home-owner Una Bethel said she was awaken from sleep and frantically dragged her 14-year-old son to the ground to avoid being shot. The incident happened Thursday morning just after midnight, she said.

Ms Bethel is also angered by the way police at the scene handled the incident. She said officers were extremely rough as she sought assistance from them in having the matter sorted out.

“What happened could have killed me and my family,” Ms Bethel said, “I have been living here all my life and nothing like this has ever happened to me. I am totally afraid now.”

Neither she nor her nine other family members living in the house were hurt during the ordeal, Ms Bethel said.

However, Ms Bethel’s 20-year-old son, Dominic Rolle, said he had a brush with death after a bullet came through the ceiling of his bedroom and rolled off his back.

Dominic said: “I heard some shuffling in the back of the yard, then about two seconds later there was some shuffling. I then heard three shots and then the guy they were after must have jumped on top of my roof.

“I know for certain he was up there because about five officers surrounded him and about 30 shots from them followed. The bullets came through my room.

“By this time I was on the floor and one of the bullets rolled off my back.”

When The Tribune contacted Central Detective Unit Chief Paul Rolle, he was not aware of the incident. He assured this newspaper that he would get to the bottom of the family’s claims.

“It could very well be the case,” Mr Rolle said, “I have no prior knowledge of it though. Please tell them to contact me so that we can do our best in finding out what happened.”

As for the man whom the police were said to be chasing, reports from residents in Montel Heights claim that he was admitted to hospital where he remains in the Intensive Care Unit.

Calls to the Princess Margaret Hospital were not returned before press time last night.