Cops hurt in fracas with SRPs

Monday, June 25th 2007

An investigation is yet to be launched into the conduct of a member of the T&T Police Executive who ordered the release of four people-one of whom is his 22-year-old son, following a fracas at St James on Saturday morning.

The incident resulted in three police constables of the St James Police Station seeking medical attention at the Port of Spain General Hospital for soft tissue damage and other injuries sustained during the fracas.

When the Express contacted the senior officer he denied the claims saying: "That is not so and I do not wish to comment further."

Following the incident, officers were treated by a foreign doctor at hospital and given medical certificates.

Entries of the incident were made in the station diary, while the senior's time of calls to the station were recorded in the telephone message registrar.

The senior's son is a Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer who lives at Boodoo Hill, Sangre Grande.

Upon his arrest, he was expected to be charged with attempted larceny of a Mitsubishi Galant car, resisting arrest, using obscene language and assaulting police officers.

Another SRP who is stationed at the Valencia Post and is the son of a woman police inspector attached to the St James Barracks, along with two women, who are from Maraval and Valencia were to be charged with resisting arrest, assaulting police officers and using obscene language.
Reports state the SRPs and their female friends were liming outside Smokey and Bunty's around 5.05 a.m. on the Western Main Road, having left a car show, when a joint army and police patrol arrived on the scene.

The officers told the group they had received reports about loud noise and warned them.

The senior officer's son started shoving one of the constables and cursing him.

A call was placed for back-up, but the officers were further abused by the SRPs and their female friends.

One officer was bitten, another hit on the head with a bottle, while the third was beaten about the body.

All four were arrested and taken to the St James Police Station where they were to be charged
When officers arrived they received a call from the senior officer who gave the order around 5.20 a.m.

The senior officer is said to have called an inspector at the station and an acting corporal who was on duty at the time.

Following the incident several officers at the station have expressed disgust at the situation and see the order as undermining their authority.

Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul and Senior Supt for the Western Division Roderick Roach could not be reached for comment.

Ah anxious to see what will become of this. Yuh know these duncee head mudder cont police like to make all kinda excuses.

Next thing you will hear is that the officer that received the call saying he couldnt remember who call him. Just like what Manning did to the police officer in Tobago who released the Bajan fishermen. And you know what ? That mudder cont get promoted. Betcha bottom dollar these mudder cont in St. James will say they dont remember who called them. Ah wonder if my family geh lock up if I could call a police station and tell them to release dem boy ?

Anyhow this is what the PNM does encourage. The Primate Minister could do it, so we could do it too.

And the duncee fockin police cyah even lie good to cover it up.

That is Trini Police for yuh.