Curses fly at Piarco

A POLICE officer attached to the Besson Street Police Station has been arrested and charged for a series of offences arising out of an incident Saturday night at the Piarco International Airport, police sources said.

It has been reported that the officer, who has approximately ten years service had parked his vehicle in a restricted area at the airport to meet his wife. Police sources told Newsday that security officials at the airport ordered him to remove his vehicle, but he refused, saying he was not moving. The officer was also asked to produce his driver’s permit and name, but he also refused, saying he was the police.  Airport security officials proceeded to arrest the cop but he used obscene language. Officers of the Piarco Police Station were called in and it is also alleged that the policeman assaulted an officer in order to prevent lawful detention. The officer was later taken to the Piarco Police Station where Sgt Price charged him with several offences including failure to present a driver’s permit on demand, obscene language and assault with intent to prevent detention.

The officer later appeared before a Justice of the Peace and was granted bail.  He is expected to appear before an Arima magistrate today to answer the charges. In confirming the report, acting Commissioner of Police Trevor Paul told Newsday yesterday that the alleged behaviour of the officer is not “police behaviour” but some other kind of behaviour. “Any man behaving that way will be treated in accordance with the law and the courts will determine if he is a hooligan or otherwise,” Paul said.  He also said that the suspension process has not yet been completed.