Residents attack police during raid

THE ARREST of a 70-year-old man caused a near riot after angry villagers stoned police vehicles and blocked the road with debris in Pleasantville Thursday night. Some 150 residents converged on the road and threw garbage, bottles and old bed frames across Cassia Drive and Pleasantville Terrace, claiming police victimisation. The residents only returned to their homes after San Fernando Mayor Ian Atherley, accompanied by Deputy Speaker of the House, Hedwidge Bereaux, and councillor Marilyn Norton spoke with them. The drama unfolded around 10 pm while Southern Division officers were conducting an exercise in the area. The Mayor told Newsday, “The residents feel the police had been hard on them and a few people were arrested unnecessarily. He said the residents claimed that on Tuesday the police arrested several men after ‘planting drugs on them.”’ According to Atherley, “They said the arrest of an elderly man for obscene language broke the camel’s back.”