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There is brewing tension in Kpeshie-Nugua in Accra over reports that police officers from Kpeshie Divisional Police Command stoned a drowning taxi driver, Nii Nartey Jean to death, Today can report.

The incident, which occurred yesterday, Today gathered, is threatening the peace in the community after Nii Nartey Jean met his untimely death at dawn yesterday when he fell into the sea during a police swoop at the Nungua Korley Gonno beach to arrest criminals and wee smokers.

According to information available to Today the police officers chased the deceased into the sea and threw stones at him to force him out, but unfortunately he swam deep and got drowned.

The swoop led to the arrest of about 17 people some of whom were arrested with leaves and wrappers suspected to be Indian Hemp whilst others were attending to nature’s call.

Speaking to Today at the family residence, spokesperson for the deceased family, William Freme, who is also the caretaker of the deceased residence, said information gathered by them suggested that when Nii Nartey Jean fell into the sea, the police allegedly threw stones into the sea.

That development, William Freme, said forced the deceased to swim further which he eventually got drowned.

He said the deceased had informed his wife that he was going to attend to nature’s call when the incident happened.

Mr. Freme also complained of periodic swoops in the area where innocent persons often bore the brunt of police brutalities.

Against this background, Mr. Freme on behalf of the family appealed to the Inspector General of Police, Mr. John Kudalor, to commission a full scale investigation into their relative’s death.

He said the deceased left behind a wife and three children and it was proper for the police to compensate them.

Another resident of Klina, where the deceased resided, who claimed to be an eye witness, said it was the police who chased the deceased into the sea and threw stones at him to force him out, but unfortunately he swam deep and got drowned.

Speaking to Today at the Kpeshie Divisional Command, the Youth Chief of Nungua, Nii Bortey Oklen Djalesane II, confirmed the death of Nii Nartey Jean.

Nii Bortey Oklen Djalesane II had gone to the Kpeshie Divisional Command to talk to scores of youth in the area who had thronged the police station to protest the death of the taxi driver and to solidarise with relatives and friends who were arrested for various offences at the dawn swoop.

He said the police would screen those arrested and assured the youth of Nungua of his support.

Along this line, Nii Djalesane II advised the youth not to take the law into their own hands but allow the police to do their work.

When the Commander of Kpeshie Divisional Command Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP), Victor Gyan- kyereko was contacted on the incident, he asked: “how can this be true?”

“We heard that but how do you throw stones at someone you want to arrest?,” he asked.

He noted that the police was not inhumane that they will throw stones at a drowning man.

“It’s unfortunate he went that way,” he lamented.

ACP Gyan-Kyereko said all those arrested had been given police enquiry bail while investigations continue.