San Pedro man beaten unconscious
In crime news, an investigation has been launched into allegations that two San Pedro police officers beat a resident almost to death. After lying unconscious in the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital, Denfield Williams woke up this morning, but has still not been able to tell anyone what happened to him. News 5 spoke with his mother and police press officer G. Michael Reid today.
Veronica Williams, Mother
“Well it let me feel so good because I was worried about it because yesterday morning the doctor told me that he was in a critical stage. But this morning when I hailed him, I told him to open his eyes, he opened it. I say, “You feel me?” He just look at me, he moved his foot. So I know that he di improve.”
Jacqueline Woods, Reporting
Veronica Williams sighed with relief after she saw her son, thirty-one year old Denfield Williams, open his eyes after being unconscious for three days. On Tuesday, Williams who works in San Pedro Town, was allegedly beaten repeatedly by one of the island’s policemen and a tourism police officer. Miss Williams says she does not know what happened but is deeply troubled by what has been reported to her by her son’s friends.
Veronica Williams
“I don’t know, but his two hands were swell and a young lady tell me, who came in to look for him from San Pedro–I don’t know her–she hear that two police beat him and tied him around a coconut tree. But they say somebody see, but I don’t know who’s the person.”
“This morning a police from San Pedro, I no know if it is a corporal or what come in and he ask me how Denfield is getting on. And I explained to him that he is just opening his eyes this morning and thing. He said okay and I’ll call you back. I am going out to investigate the matter.”
Williams says a CAT-Scan was done, but doctors have told her that the examination revealed that there is no brain damage. Williams, who is still unable to breathe on his own, remains in a critical, but stable condition. According to hospital authorities, he has been placed under neurological observation. His mother has been by her son’s bedside, trying to communicate with him, but it has not been easy.
Veronica Williams
“Well I just talk to him, you know. And I noticed that when I talk to him, he just look at me like he wants to say something, but he can’t. He has not regained consciousness to that yet.”
Williams says she wants to know what happened and is appealing to the police to help her understand why the police did this to him.
Veronica Williams
“I want justice. If they beat him innocently, I noh feel like it’s right.”
The authorities have launched an intensive investigation into the incident. Police Press Officer G. Michael Reid says they are disturbed by the report, but as far as he knows the only time Williams came in contact with the police was in December when they issued a commitment warrant for his arrest. Williams failed to pay money he owed to the court.
G. Michael Reid, Police Press Officer
“Sometime around December twelfth, a commitment warrant was issued for this person for some monies that he had owed to the court and had not paid. The police went and attempted to apprehend the gentleman. There was a struggle after which he escaped. Two days later, the gentleman went back to the police station accompanied by his boss who paid the money owed for him. At that point there was no signs of violence on this young man and no report of abuse. The last we know, the last time he was seen was I believe a week or so ago cleaning out his yard and then the story breaks. I can tell you that Inspector Mariano has already been to the island and is now doing a thorough investigation.”
According to Reid, he was not aware of any allegation until he saw this headline article in this weekend’s edition of The Reporter newspaper.
G. Michael Reid
“Normally, we would be contacted to be asked to at least give the police side of the story. There was no attempt to contact anybody in the department as far as I know of, and the story was run as if the person was beaten to death. The person is still very much alive and I hope it’s not a wish for the person. I think that the entire investigation now then will have to hinge on what he has to say when he recovers from his injuries, or at least when he emerges from the coma. I understand that he is not speaking at this point, so we are anxiously awaiting word as to what he has to say, his side of the story. From our investigations so far, we see no evidence that there was any abuse of authority by the police, any aggression, and assault. It’s an unfortunate situation, but certainly we are very, very much concerned.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information that might assist in the investigation is asked to contact San Pedro police or G. Michael Reid who can direct you to the proper authorities.
