WOUNDED MAN OVERPOWERS POLICE, INDECOM AND ESCAPES AT HOSPITAL
PORT MARIA, St Mary; Oct. 4, 2025
POLICE ARE urging a man who escaped their custody at the hospital, after a dramatic series of events, in St Mary to turn himself in immediately.
He is 29-year-old Herbie Ballentine, who also goes by the name ‘Junior Ballentine’.
Ballentine, who had been shot and was at the Port Maria Hospital where he was being interviewed by INDECOM personnel, overpowered them and police and escaped.
According to police, Ballentine escaped custody about 5:15 p.m. on Friday, October 3, 2025.
It is reported that about 11:50 p.m., on Thursday, October 2, a police team was investigating complaints of noise from a bar in Frazerwood district in St. Mary, when they heard explosions sounding like gunshots. The team reportedly went to investigate and was led to a wake in another section of the community. On their arrival at the wake, the police reportedly saw a man acting in a manner that aroused their suspicion. The police team attempted to accost him, but he fled.
According to police, subsequent enquiries indicated Ballentine was the suspect who fled the wake. The police team conducted an operation at a house in the community in a bid to further their investigations.
However, he reportedly attacked a member of the police team with a knife and was shot. He was arrested and transported to hospital for treatment.
Ballentine was being interviewed by personnel from the Independent Commission of Investigation (INDECOM) while at the hospital and was released into police custody. It is reported that he escaped by overpowering INDECOM and police personnel when they removed his handcuffs to allow him to affix his signature to the statement collected. The police searched the areas surrounding the hospital, but he was not seen.
In their statement Saturday, police said Ballentine was being urged to turn himself in immediately.
People in and around Port Maria and Highgate are asked to be on the lookout for any strangers in their communities, and are encouraged to call the Police immediately if they see anything suspicious. Family members and friends are being reminded that it is an offence to harbour an escapee, and are advised to make contact with detectives at the Port Maria Police Station to make arrangements for Ballentine’s peaceful surrender. The contact number is 876-994-9873.
Meanwhile, investigators are continuing their investigation of the incident, which also saw the arrest of a man who was at the house with Ballentine and the seizure of three imitation firearms.
No photo of Herbie Ballentine was available at the time of this publication.
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