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Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

Police Officers To Have Their Day In CourtAntigua St. John’s - At least five police officers are expected to appear before the court allegedly facing criminal charges.

Reports reaching Caribarena News are that two of the lawmen have been charged with causing grievous bodily harm and are expected to appear before a magistrate on Friday.



The two officers are accused of beating Manuel Sanchez Carmond, and breaking his leg in three places.

It is being alleged by the officers that Carmond hit their vehicle and drove off without stopping.

Further reports are that the police officers pursued him from Amy Byer Street to Gambles where he was pulled from his motor pickup C10781 and given a thrashing.

The glass on the driver’s side of the man’s vehicle was reportedly broken as a result of the incident.

Charges were brought against Carmond some 10 days after he reported the lawmen to their superior officers.

Carmond, of Fort Road, was slapped with charges of dangerous driving, resisting arrest and battery on police. The Dominican Republic national pleaded not guilty to committing the offences.

He was granted bail in the amount of $1,000 with no cash deposit required last Thursday in the St. John’s Magistrates’ Court and the matter is set for trial on September 17.

This incident reportedly occurred on June 17.

Meantime, two officers are facing charges under the Sexual Offences Act. A corporal is expected to be charged with serious indecency for allegedly performing oral sex on a teenager.

A constable, according to reports, is being investigated for rape.

Another officer is likely to be charged for wounding a civilian.

Allegations are that a government official wanted the matters to be dealt with internally due to the fact that the Royal Police Force of Antigua and Barbuda has recently been placed in a negative spotlight with a number of officers charged for various criminal offences.

These include one police officer who is currently remanded to Her Majesty’s Prison on a murder charge. He is jointly charged with two other men for killing a female gas station attendant and robbing the service station. A fourth man is also charged in the matter, but not with the murder.



Another officer is facing charges for reportedly stealing a car; one was convicted and fined for possession of cannabis; and a constable is awaiting committal for allegedly holding a woman at gunpoint and stealing her chain.

There are also officers who are before the court on fraud matters.

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25 Comments In This Article   

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police behaviour

#25 dparker » 2012-07-11 19:02

some police officers think they r above the law n can tell u anything n hve the will gaul to tell u they will lock u up if u tell them anything , mr cort need to check out the bolands police station .
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dparker

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#24 marion » 2012-07-07 08:34

I just believe no matter what profession you are in there will always be good and bad, wither it be police, nursing, firemen, doctors, etc. Dont let the bad oughtweigh the good that the above mentioned do in their line of duty.
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marion

@ tenman

#23 Skyewill » 2012-07-07 02:32

Tenman, i am trying to be unbiased and would like to give credit where and when it is due. I believe that even in the 80's 70's and even 6o's Antigua Police force have been abusive. I believe it is culturally engraved and its been that way for a very long time. i know for fact that there are some really good men and women on that force and i have never believe those officers ever get the credit they deserve and or the kind of environment needed for maximum potential. I see more exposure and I don't see no coverups. The police is becoming more open and whoever is there is doing something different and is weeding out the bad eggs. I believe Commissioner Brown have the potential to do just that, he can't make mistakes all the time. Internal investigations is on the job cause these crimes are not only being perp by police but the are also being investigated and prosicuted by the police and as the culture change, it will roll UPHILL!
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Skyewill

@ Daughter of Klass - Poignant!

#22 John French II » 2012-07-07 00:10

Notes From A Native Son Of The Rock. The Nation is blessed with your keen insight. Quote:
"We have seen the enemy, and they is us!" - Pogo
Redemption.
Quote:
"If you want me to believe in your Redeemer, you're going to have to look a lot more redeemed." - Friedrich Nietzche
This "mere voice in the wilderness" has been recommending better education and far better compensation. Some 60% of the recent applicants failed the written examinations.

Literacy and Numeracy. No one listens.

The "Bewildered & Bemused Electorate" have now placed hope in "Armed Private Mercs." A Sure Slippery Slope to the Depths of Perdition.

Keep Hope Alive! Keep The Faith!

Go Well! Respect!
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John French II

Re: Rupert J

#21 Daughter of Klaas » 2012-07-06 21:06

I am smiling as I react to your insert on Police corruption - very cynical, I thought but at the same time extremely ironic. Can't argue with your conclusion, no doubt based on your personal experience .So what do we do with this stunning revelation, Rupert J. Continue to spend millions of scarce dollars to reward Police Chiefs, Superintendents of Police for their ineffectiveness ? What made me smile, though, was the irony of it. Perhaps the police like any other resident, do get frustrated, covetous and downright angry when they are expected to do so much for so little (reward) while others are paid significant sums as, for example, ambassadors at large, to do practically nothing but perhaps fly in once a year for an independence banquet, while the real hardworking sons and daughters (not merely the residents) are blatatanlt ignored. Just like the police force, and fortuntely for us all it's only a mere fraction of the angry m** that resort to crime in all its bestial forms. So yes, Rupert J. you may have a point.
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Daughter of Klaas

police in trouble

#20 rupert j. » 2012-07-06 15:54

You guys can argue back and forth about wright and wrong and who can and cant all I know is that the police force, the defence force and all other organization is a microcosum of the society in which we live its sad but its true.
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rupert j.

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#19 JJ » 2012-07-06 14:49

"When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."
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JJ

EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP/EFFE CTIVE POLICING

#18 RAWLSTON POMPEY » 2012-07-06 14:41

Read these comments and every commentator had every right to feel peeved over the behavior of a "...few rogue cops," whose primary obligation is to "...PROTECT and SERVE" the citizenry.

There was no doubt that the accused were as overzealous and insensitive, as they were reckless and brutal.
Particularly intrigued by the comments of "...SKYWELL and TenMan."
Effective leadership may not be confused with the fact that a crime had been committed and the perpetratrators were arrested. That is all part of the function of Law enforcement, irrespective of the people allegedly
involved.

Effective Policing is not the number of perpetrators arrested. What if 10 people were killed everyday and 20 perpetrators were arrested for those murders? Logic dictates that in a very short time the Jail and the Cemetery would be full and the population decreased.

Hence, effective Policing would be just what TenMan was alluding- "...PROACTIVE POLICING" with the emphasis on "...PREVENTION. " Devising strategies; appropriate measures and functional approaches in addressing the concerns of the entire citizenry.
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RAWLSTON POMPEY

This is regular

#17 john doe » 2012-07-06 12:46

Every young man that grew up poor in Antigua knows that the Police are the biggest gang and the most persistent criminals...Thi s is only now being publicized, but its nothing new to the people on the receiving end.
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john doe

Skyewill its a cultural problem

#16 tenman » 2012-07-06 12:23

Skyewill, sometimes you make me wonder. Applying the current situation to the army would you say what we are seeing now is because of good leadership at the top? Police officers are caught breaking the law and your answer is this is happening because there is strong leadership in the force? We need to see proactive leadership, not reactive. During the Rodney King beating, I take it we can conclude that Daryl Gates provided great leadership after all the police officers involved were charged? The current COP is part of the bad culture because he txxxts laws and logic to serve his own purpose (denying marches, officers not showing up to protect protesters, utilizing an old law pertaining to hours of serving alcohol in a tourism country, the situation with Datadin, claimed missing IHI files in an unlocked location, etc... He is seen as a puppet and an idiot. What you miss is we live in different times and due to the availability of independent media, these incidents are more likely to be reported. What proactive measures are being put in place to prevent a repeat?

..
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tenman

@ mbonova

#15 Dessalines » 2012-07-06 11:35

The benefit of the historical accounts here is to show a pattern of criminal activity within the police force over time - especially to a first time reader.
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Dessalines

@ Jaba

#14 Skyewill » 2012-07-06 11:17

tell them again over 8 years ago and believe this worst have happened and never got reported. It have always been that way and if it was not for this new management, Commissioner Brown and who ever is behind the effort to clean up, this would not be so exposed. When in the pass have you read about so many cases of police misbehavior? That's because the party done and a message is being sent. This will trickle up the food chain.
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Skyewill

@ civilian justice

#13 Skyewill » 2012-07-06 11:09

You are incorrect. There is a lot of good officers in RABPF and this have been going on way before Ms Christopher and way before that. It is the new commissioner that is causing the exposure of this and is trying to weed out the creeps, trust me. don't care who talk We the public have a;lways complained ever since I can remember of the curruption within the force. But you cant's say all police and you cant say it is recent cause it is not.
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Skyewill

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#12 Really? » 2012-07-06 09:40

WHAT!!!! Police brutality in Antigua? I thought this only happened in the States. R.I.P Rodney King
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Really?

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#11 Morris » 2012-07-06 09:15

Wait a minute! The cops chased him down for a hit and run on their vehicle and other infractions, and instead of giving him a citation when the caught up with him they give him a brutal thrashing and went about their daily business, then have the gall to arrest him 10 days later for the offenses?

Did they call for back up after the alleged incident and subsequent pursuit?
Did they file any reports and sought a warrant for Mr. Carmond's arrest?
What is the current policy regarding use of force/rules of engagement by our officers?

These bad apples need to be discarded from the force.
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Morris

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#10 Jaba » 2012-07-06 09:15

I can cofess to what mr carmond went through. Eight years ago I was pulled over and beaten by two police officers luckily I only suffered a broken nose and 2 chipped teeth
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Jaba

De Real Observer

#9 Osbert R. Frederick » 2012-07-06 09:04

Why would a government official want these criminal activities to be handled inhouse? This is just the way this government operates. Isn't it strange that they want to set up a committee from within cabinet to 'investigate' the Wadadli Power Plant issue? This is the craziest thing I have ever heard. Can you you believe a person investigating his or her self? Persons are innocent until proven guilty, but the police should go through the same criminal process. Let others know that if they continue down this line, they will suffer the same fate.
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Osbert R. Frederick

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#8 Hmm » 2012-07-06 08:08

There are bad Cops in every Police Force around the world. Some are involved in drugs, some prostitution, theft, u name it. However, a few bad apples dont make the whole force bad and its wrong to castigate the whole force for the wrong that some officers have done. There are a number of hard working men and women in the force who still do a good job and deserve to be commended.
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Hmm

time to be proactive

#7 tenman » 2012-07-06 07:58

It seems we prefer to be reactive in our approach to things. Its time for a proactive approach to be taken with the police force. An independent civilian association, similar to the The Independent Commission of Investigations in Jamaica needs to be formed here. The commission there handles complaints against a member of the Security Forces (JCF, ISCF, JDF, District Constables), Correctional Officer or a Public Officer. An in depth independent investigation needs to be held of the police force. Time and time again we see that some members of the police force think they are above the law. This body could help in investigating customs officers and should possibly be part of an expanded (working) Integrity commission
..


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tenman

Great Job By Brown

#6 Skyewill » 2012-07-06 07:51

As anyone can see the Police Commissioner is doing his best to change the culture of the police. Thanks Commissioner Vere – Good job although that’s a lot of officers and It’s about time, especially for those who use their authority to abuse people, there are good men & Women on the Force. The Police need a nice Gym and daycare for their children.
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Skyewill

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#5 SlyThatGuy » 2012-07-06 07:37

You can tell by inference that the police officers just wanted to beat up Mr.Carmon to teach him a lesson and that they had no intention of bringing any charges against him for the alleged hit-and-run accident. Clearly,the decision to bring charges against Mr. Camon - which,by the way,is grounds for dismissal - came after he reported the officers to their superior officers.
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SlyThatGuy

What Are You Reporting ON?

#4 mbonova » 2012-07-06 07:30

Is there any editorial benefit or financial media gain by reporting one story and then adding a historical regurgitation of other cases before the courts?
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mbonova

Crying for Antigua

#3 Civilian justice » 2012-07-06 07:18

The Royal Police Force is a disgrace.
This a very small island with Officers who are real criminals.
When crimes are perpetrated and there are no clues...look in the Force....they know.
Serial rapists etc.
I am sure if Ms Delano Christopher was still at the helm those things would not have taken place.
But you see she was never given a chance to really prove herself.....pol itics.politics, politics.
She could not be bought.
She was too straight..and it showed on her face too.
Where is Antigua heading too?
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Civilian justice

They need to be weeded out

#2 Shame shame » 2012-07-06 07:05

Apart from the sexual related ofenses, where are the names?
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Shame shame

RE: Police Officers To Have Their Day In Court

#1 GoodJobBob » 2012-07-06 03:07

These all seem like pretty minor things compared to xxxxl xxxx's participation in the Stanford International Bank fraud.

Of course we know now that stealing isn't a crime in Antigua.
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GoodJobBob

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