Family pepper-sprayed by cops - INDECOM probing matter

A private investigator is claiming that he and his brother were arrested and charged unjustly by a constable, who also pepper-sprayed four children while at their home in Hopewell last Friday night.

Thomas Grey, 43, said he has since filed a police report and also reported the matter to the Independent Commission of Investigations (INDECOM), who have since launched a probe into the incident.

"I just drove home about 11:30 p.m., and was relaxing on the upstairs of my verandah, when I saw a police patrol car drove up," Grey told The WESTERN STAR. "I know that we are under a state of public emergency, so when the police officer told my niece to close up her shop, which she operates at the entrance to the yard, she did so."

Grey said that his mentally challenged nephew was sitting in the shop, and the police started to question him.

"When he did not respond, he (the constable) held him by his waist and his throat," said Grey. "My elderly brother, who was sitting inside the yard, told the officer that the young man was mad, and the officer, instead of approaching the situation in a different manner, told my brother to come out of his business and to go inside his house," he said.

Grey said that he told the policeman that he was not dealing with the matter correctly.

"The officer immediately got boisterous, ran up the steps to my verandah, and started to come up in my face. I ignored him and stepped away, and in clear view of my family, he started to use indecent language at me, and threatened to lock up me and my two elder brothers," said Grey. "He then pulled out pepper spray, and sprayed it at my face. I ducked and the pepper spray spread in the entire house, affecting four babies, the youngest who is three months and the oldest four years old."

Grey said the lawman called for another vehicle to assist him, wrote six tickets, and instructed his colleagues to take him and his brother to the Lucea Police Station.

According to Grey, after arriving at the station, the sergeant on duty said the charges were not substantial.

He said four of the tickets were withdrawn, and he and his brother were held overnight and given station bail.

Last Saturday morning, the entire family had to visit the doctor, including the four children.

Director of Complaint for INDECOM's western region, Errol Chattoo, told The WESTERN STAR that the matter has been reported to them and an investigation is now being launched into the matter.

An attempt to get a comment from Superintendent Sharon Beeput, commanding officer in charge of Hanover, proved futile.