Linden taxi driver claims asthma attack after breathalyzer test

Sep 20, 2016 News

– It was all a sham – Police
A Linden taxi driver claims that he was harassed by police ranks from the Mackenzie Police Station some time after mid-night on Monday. The driver, Odinga McDonald, who resides along East Coast Demerara, told Kaieteur News, yesterday, that he was heading to Georgetown from Linden with passengers when he was pulled over by three ranks.
He said that the ranks were attached to the Mackenzie Police Station.
McDonald explained that he was asked by the ranks to exit his vehicle and take a breathalyzer test. The man reported that of the three officers, one was dressed in plain clothing and later introduced himself as the “Inspector in charge of traffic”.
He continued that the “Inspector” began asking a series of questions while taking out the equipment to conduct the test. McDonald said that he did the test and was asked to take another since the air that was blown into the instrument was not sufficient.
“I said man, I cannot blow how you want me to blow because I’m an asthmatic”. McDonald stated.
The man added that one of the ranks told him that should he fail to follow their instructions, he would be taken to the Police Station. McDonald said that after he blew into the instrument for a second time, he had an asthma attack and fell to the ground.
McDonald’s story was differed completely from what the police related after they were contacted.
‘E’-Division Commander, Calvin Brutus informed Kaieteur News that the police were conducting a “Driving under the Influence (DUI) exercise” when McDonald was seen leaving a popular hangout in Linden with other individuals who were in an intoxicated state.
Brutus stated that a call was made to alert the ranks who were further up the road. After McDonald was pulled over, he was required to do the breathalyzer test after which he collapsed to the ground.
The Commander said that McDonald was rushed to the hospital where it was revealed that the taxi driver had no ailments. He asserted that it was all a sham.
Meanwhile, the passenger in the car – according to Brutus – also appeared to be in an intoxicated state and was using indecent language. This passenger, he said, was arrested and subsequently released minutes after on his own recognizance.

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