Brutality allegations result in investigation

In other police news, as a result of a report filed with the Ombudsman Paul Rodriguez, two police officers have been interdicted from duty pending investigations of allegations of police brutality. On Sunday July 25th, Rodriguez was told of an incident which reportedly occurred on Caesar Ridge Road involving a citizen, Deon Ferguson, two police officers and two members of the B.D.F. Ferguson claims that one of the officers beat him with the butt of a rifle for no apparent reason, while the others watched. According to the police officers, Ferguson was suspected of carrying a weapon and resisted when they tried to search him. They admit that they punched Ferguson, but only after he punched one of them when he was asked to enter the charge room. The incident is under full investigation and at the police press conference today, Commissioner Ornel Brooks made his views clear.

Ornel Brooks, Commissioner of Police

“We believe that by having such numerical configuration, there would be sufficient strength on board, physical strength for them to overcome one or two persons without having to hit someone with a gun butt.

I find it extremely upsetting that the corporal on board that vehicle, the serving police officer, sat there and while this occurred, did not get out of the vehicle, did not put a pound of flesh to take charge. That is unacceptable.”

Brooks says the success of Operation Fireball of which the officers were a part has had unprecedented success. He characterizes this brutality claim as an “isolated incident.”