The Jamaica College (JC) student seen in a viral video physically assaulting a schoolmate is not in police custody. Initial reports suggested the teen was arrested, but police confirmed he remains free. According to Investigators, their hands are tied without a formal complaint from the victim’s family.
Acting Senior Superintendent Mark Harris, who leads the St Andrew Central Police Division, indicated that despite the viral video of the assault, the aggressor can not be arrested at this time. According to Harris, standard procedure requires a complainant to come forward so that certain legal steps can be taken. He noted that cases typically begin when a report is formally made at a station.
Jamaicans online took issue with this, calling for justice. “Without the student reporting it or without the consent of the parents, the police cannot do much,” Harris told the Jamaica Star.
Still, Harris indicated that the police have not ignored the matter. He said officers have been engaging with the school and are working toward a resolution, expressing hope that all parties will cooperate as efforts continue behind the scenes.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education, Skills, Youth and Information has also stepped in, deploying a team to the institution as part of its own investigation. Parliamentary Secretary Marlon Morgan visited the campus on Monday, signalling the level of concern at the national level.
The situation has drawn heightened public attention following the emergence of the video over the weekend, with many questioning why no immediate arrest was made.
The public also called out the principal of JC, Wayne Robinson, for releasing a controversial statement. The release detailed the investigation the school carried out and its findings, which were that the victim said he stole from his peers and failed to return all that he took on the agreed-upon deadlines, leading to the assault. Many perceived the statement to be a justification for the assault and lashed out at the institution.
While both school officials and the ministry continue their inquiries, the police say the next step largely depends on whether the victim’s family comes forward to make a formal complaint.