RESIDENTS of Stevedore Housing scheme, Ruimveldt are very upset, annoyed and angry by the actions of the police which they describe as high-handed, thoughtless and irresponsible. The residents were referring to the police’s response to a report that a young man from the area may be in possession of a firearm.
The residents told the chronicle that an employee of the Cevon’s Waste Management Service and a resident of the community had a misunderstanding earlier this week and the Stevedore resident was in the habit of abusing the Cevon’s Waste Management employee. The matter was reported to the police.
Speaking with the Chronicle at the East La Penitence Police station last night, the operations manager of the waste company said he reported the matter to the police as his staff was continuously being harassed by the other young man whose name was given as ‘Boggie’.
The man said ‘Boggie’ began making dangerous threats to him for reporting him to the police and, last night, he observed ‘Boggie’ advancing towards him with an object stuck underneath his jersey. The man said he again reported this to the police, with ranks responding promptly.
However, upon their arrival, ‘Boggie’ who was sitting in front of his ‘gap’, attempted to flee from the police by running through an ally. Residents said the pursuing police ranks began firing shots behind him. The man, who did not receive any gunshot wounds, eventually fell while running and was apprehended.  Residents claimed that the police began beating the young man about his body with their guns.
The residents also lamented the abuse of power by the police who also threw a mother into the back of a police pick up because she was ‘hollering’, after being traumatized by the ordeal. They are also calling for the police to pay for damaged items left in a house they ransacked under the pretext of searching for a gun.
The residents are calling on the Police Commissioner to investigate last night’s incident very thoroughly since they are certain ranks who were part of the operation, that will be guilty of an offence.