By SANCHESKA BROWN

Tribune Staff Reporter

sbrown@tribunemedia.net

THE HAITIAN community in Andros were reportedly up in arms yesterday claiming an Immigration Officer had chased and killed a man, although police later said the man died of natural causes.

According to a source on the island, members of the community surrounded the local Clinic yesterday afternoon in San Andros after the Haitian was allegedly attacked near his home reportedly by a Bahamian immigration officer.

“It all started when a lone immigration officer went into the community and chased this man. They say he sprayed something in the man’s face and he collapsed. The officer then ran off. They took the man to the local clinic where they pronounced him dead,” the source said.

“It is a scary situation. They surrounded the clinic and they had to escort the officer out of the area in a squad car. I heard it was gas they threw in the man’s face that caused him to die. These people are very angry and saying they have had run-ins with this officer before. They call him a disgusting man who likes to cause trouble.”

Supt of Police Stephen Dean confirmed that something did happen in Andros, but said it was a misunderstanding.

“My information is that a man in his 40’s died in San Andros. There was a rumour that immigration was in the Haitian community spraying something that caused the man to die,” he said.

“That is not the information that I am getting. I was told immigration was not in the area and doctors are saying the man died of natural causes. There was no uprising. Everything is calm there and we do not suspect anything at this time,” he said.

Active investigations are continuing.