Agricola shooting…Brumell confirms ranks’ disappearance

Sep 26, 2012 News

Commissioner of Police (ag) Leroy Brumell has confirmed that the whereabouts of two of the ranks who were involved in the raid which resulted in the shooting death of 17-year-old Agricola resident Shaquille Grant are unknown.
The Commissioner gave the confirmation yesterday when questioned by this newspaper.
“I can confirm that two ranks are not there and we are looking for them,” Brumell said.
The ranks, who were last seen on Friday, have not reported for duty since Saturday.
Residents of Agricola, including the mother and other relatives of the slain youth had on Monday picketed the High Court, and yesterday while the Commission of Inquiry into the Linden shooting was being conducted.
They believe that the two cops have fled the jurisdiction to escape possible criminal charges resulting from the fatal shooting of the teenager two weeks ago.
So far no decision on whether the men will be charged has been made.
Chairman of the Police Complaints Authority, Justice Cecil Kennard, has indicated that he is in receipt of a file on the matter that was prepared by the Police’s Office of Professional Responsibility.
That file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for further advice.
Another senior police official told this newspaper yesterday that while the Force is concerned over the recent development, it is treating the ranks’ disappearance as “absence from duty”.
He explained that while the men were removed from active patrol work and were consigned to desk duties, they were not under close arrest.
“Even if they were under close arrest, we would have had to place them on open arrest after the stipulated 72 hours would have expired,” the police officer explained.
The ranks were not prevented from leaving the Eve Leary compound.
He said that when the two men did not show up for duty on Saturday, checks were made at their homes and places where they would usually be, but no one seemed to know their whereabouts.
This newspaper was however assured that should the ranks not be located, charges could still be instituted in their absence, if so advised by the DPP.
Social activist, Mark Benschop, speaking on behalf of the Agricola residents, opined that, “The policemen who were involved in the Agricola shooting were just allowed to disappear.” Benschop said they are policemen involved in a fatal shooting and they were not placed on close arrest. “If the officers were placed on close arrest and are now gone, then they were allowed to leave,” Benschop opined.
As a result, he said the Police Commissioner and the Crime Chief must answer to the public and the family of Shaquille Grant.
Shonette Grant said that she wants justice for her son. She said it could only be the acts of senior officials to have the embattled police ranks flee the country, if indeed they have gone.
Grant said that she was told that between Saturday and yesterday, the named police ranks fled the country.
However, up to yesterday, police officials could not confirm if there was any record of the men fleeing the jurisdiction.
The slain teen’s mother said “It has been more than two weeks… enough time for an investigation to be completed with all the evidence provided,” the mother said.
Grant stated that toward the end of last week she visited Home Affairs Minister Clement Rohee’s office but made no contact with him.
The mother said later she received a call from Minister Rohee who told her that a letter was sent to Commissioner Brumell, telling him that he should deal with the Agricola shooting expeditiously.
“Now the men are missing,” Grant said.

Latest News

Agricola shooting…Brumell confirms ranks’ disappearance

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

KARCC hails 2025 Guyana-Suriname Group Ride a massive success

Cricket West Indies Launches Bold New Scouting...

Berbice Educational High CSEC Physical Education...

GSL 2025 to take place in July

Ken Harvey dominates GBA’s Pepsi/Michael...

Goal is Money survive scare on Opening Night of...

Features/Columnists

The burden of proof rests on the asserting party

OAS Secretary General Election and renewed OAS Consensus

Straight talk

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]

Agricola shooting…Brumell confirms ranks’ disappearance

Share this:

Related

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | January, 27th, 2025

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Features/Columnists

Publisher’s Note

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]