An incident in which a taxi driver jumped from his moving car to escape a policeman who entered the vehicle and instructed him to drive to the Stony Hill Police Station is now a hot topic on the lips of residents of the St Andrew community.

The high drama, which occurred on Wednesday, ended when the vehicle crashed into a fence with the obviously frightened policeman, who escaped serious injuries. Police have since launched a search for the cabbie who has not been seen since pulling the movie-like stunt.

The incident has sparked much laughter and chatter in the West Rural St Andrew community.

Information reaching THE WEEKEND STAR, is that the cabbie was accosted by the inspector at a supermarket parking lot. The inspector had repeatedly warned taxi men not to load at that location. The officer emptied the vehicle, sat in the passenger seat and ordered the cabbie to drive to the police station a short distance away.

"Di man drive and when him almost reach the station, him jus jump out of the car with the vehicle still running and run leave the policeman. Di man run like thief leave the scene and disappear and the vehicle go crash near the library fence. Mi think the inspector was frightened and couldn't bring it to a stop," one witness recalled laughing. "I feel if a precipice was close by him woulda do di same ting. Is like him mek up him mind fi sheg up di policeman. Yuh know when a man jus tiad a you a tek set pan him."

Residents, though surprised at the incident, said they found it quite comical. Many disagreed with what the taxi driver did, but said they understood his frustration as the cabbies feel they are being harassed by the police.

The Stony Hill police declined to comment on the incident and efforts to speak to the inspector proved futile.

Up to press time last night, police said the driver was still at large. "He is still on the run, I don't think him ago show up back around these side again," a policeman at the station said.