– Crime Chief
POLICE Crime Chief, Seelall Persaud, said yesterday, that an investigation is ongoing into the Tuesday death of an elderly woman in
Curtis Street, Albouystown, Georgetown. He said Police are awaiting the results of a post mortem examination on the deceased, Gloria St. John, 82, to ascertain
whether she died of a heart attack or other causes.
The Assistant Commissioner said he is aware of a related complaint and, once there is an allegation, it would be
investigated.
Meanwhile, Deslyn St. John, daughter of the dead octogenarian, said she believes a police raid on their home, the same
day, may have accelerated her mother’s demise.
The old woman had been feeling unwell on Monday but was recovering, Deslyn said.
She told the Guyana Chronicle that, about 19:30 hrs, as is customary, several residents were sitting at the corner of
Curtis Street when a police mobile patrol arrived and conducted a search in a nearby house.
She said, shortly after, a policeman she named approached her son and searched him but, having found nothing
incriminating, kicked him when he enquired why he was arrested and being taken to a station.
Deslyn said, at that stage, the detainee’s sister, Tandika Gaskin, went to his aid and was dealt a slap in the face by the
same policeman.
Deslyn, herself, was chucked after she, too, asked what the confrontation was about.
She said the policeman ordered them both into a motor vehicle, which took them, as well, to the station where they were
locked up while her son was taken elsewhere.
Deslyn said, when she demanded to know what offence they had committed, she was told that another woman who was in the
searched house had also been detained and they all would be charged for possession of prohibited drugs.
She said, after they were placed in the vehicle, the lawmen burst into the Lot 172 Curtis Street apartment of Gloria St.
John, pointed a gun at her and she collapsed.
The collapsed woman was rushed to Woodlands Hospital, on Carmichael Street, also in the city, where she was pronounced
dead on arrival Tuesday night.
Deslyn said her mother had, previously, only complained of arthritis but never suffered heart complications or any other
illness. She was a normal person despite her age and did everything for herself, including cooking.
Those detained were released from custody on Wednesday without any charges being laid against them but they are asking the
authorities to look into the circumstances of their detention, alleging that the assault of them by the policeman was unprofessional
and he was very rude and abusive.
Deslyn said the very policeman always passes through Curtis Street and harasses persons. He even searched her 13-year-old
relative on Old Year’s Night but, prior to Tuesday night, they had no encounter with him.