Arnim smith clashes with police

UNC Senator Arnim Smith put up strong opposition to the manner in which he was treated during a roadblock in Curepe on Friday night. According to police officers conducting the roadblock along the Southern Main Road, Curepe, Smith refused to slow down his silver Yaris vehicle at their request. Smith believes that he was targetted by the officers who found a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun in the glove compartment of the car. “I feeling like I was singled out!” declared the irate Smith. He turned to the media who were covering the police exercise, gesticulated and ex-claimed: “Take my picture, I am UNC Senator Arnim Smith! Let the people know that the police are jostling me here.” When Smith learned that ACP Crime Oswyn Allard was in the vicinity he shouted, “Where Allard? I going to talk to Allard!” “They want to search me like a criminal, what they want me to do, drop my pants,” said Smith to Allard. Allard was able to pacify the incensed Senator who then furnished the licence for the handgun along with the insurance for his vehicle. Smith’s woes continued as he was unable to find his car keys following the short ordeal.

He had to return home to acquire a spare key. Numerous efforts to contact Smith yesterday for comment proved futile. UNC Senator Wade Mark did however state that he had no problem with the police carrying out their duties but thought that there was a deliberate attempt to humiliate Smith. Mark added that the party would be writing to the Acting Commissioner of Police regarding the matter and are not ruling out the possibility of legal action. Smith was caught up in a police exercise which ended along the Southern Main Road, Curepe. Media personnel were called upon to join the patrol and witness the intricacies of numerous police searches in the Lower Laventille, Morvant and Curepe areas. The desire of reporters, photographers and cameramen to “see the real action” was met by a relatively uneventful night. There were however some highlights which included the arrest of a soldier on Indepen-dence Square for the use of obscene language, the voracious protest of Smith and a vicious barrage of mosquito bites at a roadblock along the Priority Bus Route. When asked about the inconvenience caused by activities such as roadblocks Allard said, “I would like to appeal to the country, I hope that you will be patient with us, as these exercises are intended for your own safety.”