Tour guide accuses cops of brutality

Shermaine Budd, the woman interviewed in an earlier story, not only had to mourn the loss of her brother, but this morning she was a key witness in a case of police brutality. This morning tour guide Mark Pollard was on his way to the tourism village, but as he drove on Mahogany Street, he suddenly stopped, and reversed his vehicle to pick up Budd and her young daughter. Budd says what happened next startled everyone inside the van.

Shermaine Budd, Witness, Police Brutality

“As I get into the vehicle a police double-cab pickup truck, licence plate either 1405 or 1409, I didn’t see the number good because they drive off quickly. The police officer on the passenger side front seat jumped out and said, “Weh the (expletive) you di do yah? Weh you di do yah? We you di do di park yah?” So Mr. Pollard seh, “You noh see I di pick up this young lady?” Dah noh like traffic mi di come, we wasn’t obstructing traffic at the time. Only the police vehicle was on the way that passed us. One of the armed police from out of the back of the pickup jumped out and the police officer from the front passenger seat came in the vehicle, open the vehicle door and choked Mr. Pollard like this.” (re-enacts choking) “Choke him and put him back way and choking him around his neck and cursing the bad word.”

Mark Pollard, Alleges Police Brutality

“I noh got a record with the law or nothing like that. And I think I have to take this further because it has to go further with the higher supreme or I have to take it to court because I really don’t like weh really gone on today.”

Shermaine Budd

“This is the first time I was actually in a situation where it took place in front of my eyes, so I was kind shocked. I told the police officer, what is wrong, why are you choking him!”

Pollard has lodged a complaint with the police. According to Press Officer G. Michael Reid, the police internal affairs unit has the incident under investigation.