Female cop beaten by students

A female constable carrying out duties at the Ministry of Education's schools' Soca Storm at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, was pushed to the ground and beaten by five teenaged students for more than five minutes.

She was eventually rescued by colleagues who were alerted to her screams for help.

Up until late yesterday, the constable was nursing bruises about her body.

Reports revealed that around 1.30 pm, WPC Sherma Titus, who is attached to the Tunapuna Police Station,was carrying out duties when she was attacked by five female students in uniform.

The constable who was dressed in full police uniform was pushed to the ground, by the frenzied students after they were spoken to about their behaviour. The constable was rescued by other officers who immediately stopped the fete and ordered all the students out of the compound.

The students were followed to the Priority Bus Route and ordered into maxi-taxis by more than fifty heavily armed police officers.

This resulted in a war of words between the police and students who claimed police brutality. They were ordered out of the area and told to disperse.

WPC Titus was taken to the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex where she was treated and discharged. Reports reveal that around 1.30 pm, more than 800 students from various schools were at the Centre of Excellence enjoying the sixth school Soca Storm. About 2,000 other students were gathered outside the venue attempting to secure entrance into the fete when they began cursing, arguing and behaving in a disorderly manner.

WPC Titus who was carrying out duties at the entrance gate spoke to the students about their behaviour when about five female students surrounded her and began threatning her. Two of the students pushed WPC Titus to the ground while five others began beating her. Her screams attracted other police officers who ran to her assistance. The constable was rescued by the officers who managed to grab a 16-year-old female student of the Bourg Mulatresse Senior Comprehensive School.

Two other 16-year-old students from a college were also arrested for obscene language and resisting arrest.

Up until late yesterday the three teenaged students were detained at the Tunapuna Police Station. Senior officers said yesterday that after the constable was rescued, they called for back up assistance from officers of the Port-of-Spain Task Force, Tunapuna, St Joseph, and Arima CID.

When officers arrived on the scene they took control of the situation and ordered all students out of the compound. The DJ's and guest artistes were informed of the situation and told the show could no longer go on. Police officers seized more than eight knives from students.

Senior officers expressed concern over the incident and added that charges will be laid against the three students detained. Warrants have been issued for the arrests of other students involved in the beating of Titus.

Police officers who witnessed the beating of their collegaue expressed outrage over the incident and added that they will be taking the matter to the Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy, and the Police Second Division on Monday.

Last night a Ministry of Education official explained that the Ministry  had sanctioned some shows in schools, but the Ministry was unaware of yesterday's show at the Centre of Excellence.

He said the Ministry also intends to find out how so many children were allowed to leave school for such a show at which the children were unsupervised.