Police face another angry mob in Sando

FOLLOWING Wednesday night’s fracas in Pleasantville between police and residents, a similar incident occurred yesterday just metres away at Cocoyea Village. Heavily-armed policemen were called out to quell a noisy uproar by residents of Foress Avenue, in which a five-month-old baby girl was caught in the midst. Three van loads of police officers, including members of the Guard and Emergency Branch, clashed with residents when police went to the area to arrest a 30-year-old man for possession of marijuana and resisting arrest.

Yesterday’s incident was the second in two days. The first occurred on Wednesday night in Pleasantville, when residents of Cassia Avenue became aggressive to policemen. When police officers arrived there, they were met with debris piled across Cassia Avenue. Two of their colleagues were trapped inside the street, unable to get out with a man  they had arrested with marijuana. Police officers were forced to fire warning shots in the air to quell the residents who threw stones and debris at them.

Yesterday, the drama began at Forres Avenue around 9 am. According to a police report, four police officers attached to the Mon Repos Police Station went to the area to arrest a man they suspected had drugs. Within minutes of the police’s arrival, however, several police vehicles from the Anti-Crime and Crime Suppression Unit arrived on the scene. Scores of residents stood on the roadside and hurled abuse at the policemen. An eyewitness told Newsday, “I see the officers come out and begin to rub down the men. The police requested he strip off his clothing — right there in the road.” The woman said she saw policemen “jost-ling” the man, but he managed to free himself.

The four policemen cornered the man, she said, and began cuffing and kicking the man. Louise Nanton, 62, told Newsday that the man ran into her home, but the police chased after him. “I was shocked and frightened to see the police chasing after the man. I started screaming and the police told me to shut up,” Nanton said. There was a struggle between the police and the suspect. Nanton’s wooden gallery, including the banisters bordering the gallery area, were broken down. Iron chairs were bent and twisted. The commotion caused angry residents who saw the incident to assemble on the road. ASP Eldwin Noel of Southern Division Police Headquarters arrived on the scene. Noel had to calm  angry residents.