Victim of police brutality wants to be paid
A man from Lucky Strike found out that his luck has ran out. Yesterday afternoon around two-thirty Howard Coleman was confronted by a police officer who informed him that he owed the court seven hundred and fifty dollars. Coleman says he was surprised to find out he was indebted. Apparently, the fine was for a judgment from a case about a traffic accident two years ago, a case he says he didn’t even know about. When the officer tried to arrest Coleman without a warrant, he declined to go with him and that was the beginning of his bad experience. Coleman related his tale this evening.
Howard Coleman, Alleges Police Brutality
“He told me he had a distress warrant so I told him I’m not going with him because I want to se the warrant. Then I drive off to Belize.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now, do you think it was a smart thing to do to drive off leaving the policeman there?”
Howard Coleman
“Well, because I don’t see no warrant.”
Jose Sanchez
“So what happened next?”
Howard Coleman
“Well, the man dehn chase me down by Williamson and shoot di front wheel ah di truck and dehn bore up di tires ah mi vehicle. Dehn shoot front wheel and dehn shoot di back wheel. I stop and dehn jump round di vehicle and shoot di tires; shoot di next two tire. Then when I open di door dehn start beat me from there to Ladyville and then dah di Ladyville station dehn beat me again.”
Jose Sanchez
“And then they let you go today?”
Howard Coleman
“Well, my family paid the money weh dehn say dat I owe.”
Jose Sanchez
“So you were beaten because you owe the court money from a previous case?”
Howard Coleman
“Well, according to them, ih look like. I noh know why dehn beat mi.”
Jose Sanchez
“So what do you want from the police now?”
Howard Coleman
“Well, I want from di police to pay back my damage and di damage to the vehicle.”
Coleman was released today after his family paid the seven hundred and fifty dollar fine. Coleman says he is in pain and has made three statements to the Police concerning his beating. He wants to be compensated for his damaged tires and for his medical bills.
