Couple claim unfair treatment by police
On Wednesday, we reported on the abundance of stolen items recovered by police. The items included televisions, VCR’s and stereo systems and were on display at the Raccoon Street Police station. As part of the operation, the home of Alberto Saragosa and Angelina Allen was searched for drugs and ammunition. While no drugs were found in the house, the couple claims that police took items from their home which were gifts from their daughter in the United States.
Angelina Allen
“They started to search my room, digging up everything and messing up the hall. They went into the children’s room and dig up everything. They went into his room and didn’t find anything. They then went to the hall and started to pull off the TV. They pull off a small music box that I had, they took them all down. The little boy’s Nintendo and I had an old VCR, it’s not working, but I kept it for a souvenir because it looks good. They went in my room and saw my big TV that my daughter just sent for me for my birthday and my VCR. I didn’t even open them yet because it wasn’t even set up it or anything.”
Alberto Saragosa
“They said they are going to take someone to identify the thing at the police station, to go and say what all belongs to her. Then it’s ten o’clock and she didn’t return home. I went to the police station, Eastern Division, and when I got there they had her behind bars. I asked what’s wrong and they didn’t know, they sent me to CIB. I had to go to Raccoon police station, but I couldn’t see Mr. Jeffries, so I went to the lawyer down North Front Street and he’s the one that took out my wife from the jail. Without any charge they told her to go home, that’s taking advantage. They are chancing me plus they taking advantage of us.”
Angelina Allen
“Afterwards Mr. Jeffries say take them to the Eastern Division, so they took us and to the first one they said look him up. Really I don’t know the police’s name that came to my house, so they told them to lock up the boy, my son, and they took him. Then they said lock the lady up too, but they don’t tell me for what. So I said that I was going over there and they would explain things to me. They just said lock her up.”
“We don’t have proper papers because the things come from the States in a truck and we don’t have proper papers. My son-in-law when he goes, he bring the weed whacker and he doesn’t bring any papers for that either.”
Christopher Tillett, Neighbour
“In respect to this ongoing operation I would like the general public to know it’s a very good operation, but when people become victims of unlawful search and things like that, then I would readily denounce that. I would like to say that I have known Mr. Alberto Saragosa for several years now and he happens to be my neighbor.”
“On various occasions his daughter and my daughter would talk and part of the conversation would be that Teresita sends this for Mr. Saragosa… It’s a fact that that gentleman has his daughter and she sends several barrels within a year’s time.”
Police say that items brought through customs are processed and documented, therefore it should not be difficult for anyone to provide proof of ownership. While they declined to speak about the Saragosa case, they have already issued warrants for arrests concerning the stolen items.
