By LAMECH JOHNSON
Tribune Staff Reporter
ljohnson@tribunemedia.net
TWO MEN arrested last week on separate charges of armed robbery and escaping died in police custody over the weekend within 24 hours of each other in what remains mysterious circumstances.
Police officials remained tight lipped on their identities and what led to these deaths, only referring inquiries to Dr. Linda Virgil at Royal Victoria Gardens, who in her capacity as a coroner, is investigating the deaths.
And while rumours surfaced over social media that the men who died in custody were the men allegedly involved in the recent shooting of two police officers, Tribune sources confirm that they are not Reynaldo Adderley or his alleged accomplice.
However, while their identifications were being withheld pending notification of next of kin, sources identified them as 33-year-old Mathhew Jacob Pratt and 21-year-old Aaron Rolle.
It is understood that Rolle of Ross Corner was being held at the Quakoo Street station on Saturday, having earlier escaped from the station. He was recaptured 30 hours later.
Around midnight on Saturday, Rolle had reportedly asked to have some water and be allowed to use the telephone. He was given water, but shortly afterwards, his cellmate called out to officers to inform them that Rolle was lying on the floor and appeared to be dead. EMS was summoned to the station and pronounced him dead. It is understood that he had certain “medical challenges.”
The circumstances surrounding Pratt’s death at the Central Detective Unit on Friday remain unknown. He was in custody in connection with armed robbery.
The deaths come eight months after 22-year-old Tyronne Saunders was found unresponsive inside a CDU cell one day after being arrested in connection with a murder.
Though the coroner’s report released a week later revealed that Saunders died of a heart attack, the family did not accept it, believing the circumstances to be suspicious.
Pratt and Rolle’s deaths are being investigated by Dr Virgil.
Comments
tonymontana 11 years, 8 months ago
Come on tribune get it right you are the pace setter when it comes to news , who the hell is DR Virgil? and what is she/ he investigating?.
Two men die in police custody and no reporter is camped outside the police commissioners office, or his two bosses , the media needs to be more responsible than this , Some days ago when a US tourist did his swan dive of the hotel room their was much more publicity and news catching statements , now that two of our own have met an untimely demise not a word from the third estate , stop hiding behind issued words from the coroner (who by the way has not issued any order to the courts in the last few shootings) and the police, we expect better from you .
prologic 11 years, 8 months ago
At first i would have sided with the effort of downplaying the fact that crime is soooo bad in this country we wouldn't want to give a bad vibe to the international press, however damage control doesn't trump alleged police brutality of its citizens. This totally displays the internal frustration of the Police force. Things are much worse than what we read in the papers and any press should be ashamed of not telling the Bahamian people the TRUTH!
positiveinput 11 years, 8 months ago
Where is the christian councel now who states they protect the poor vunerable citizens from harmful elements? Where is the vote no to police butality? I'm sure those two individuals would have perferred the vote no effort to focus more on a matter like this. Bahamian life on the whole is one big gamble. Smt
tonymontana 11 years, 8 months ago
Two men are dead in police custody and the headlines reads its a mystery? we need to call in the scientist , this mystery seems to only affect young black males under the age of 35,and for the record seems to be heading towards a pandemic stage , perhaps the world health organization needs to pay a courtesy call on our jail cells to see what the afflicted cause can be , This mystery has gone before the coroners court and to date very little has been said as to its cause , perhaps the good coroner when she goes to pay a visit to her dearly departed husband can pay a courtesy call on the graves of all these young men who have fallen under this mystery, the coroner has closure knowing that the villains who fell her husband are behind bars and one or two may be still lurking be around the parliament building .
shortpants 11 years, 8 months ago
The coroner is the worst in these cases.Every single time this happens to your son,brother friend they will tell you died of a heart attack. Really come on folks wake up stop letting the coroner tell you lies .They police has to take responsibility for their actions.They are not above the law.Check around the world if police brutality is committed they have to pay the price just like the criminal .Bahamians wake up and stop letting these officers get away with killing your children.This government anything goes,worst if you don't have no money pay the next crooks lawyers .We in a poor state right now .This government knows nothing about truth only lies and more lies.
TimeForChange 11 years, 8 months ago
WOW its not even safe in the police stations with the police officers! This country is in a serious state when the law enforcers are actually breaking the laws and nothing is being done about it! Ok Mr. Prime Minister who claims to have all the answers lets see how you deal with this one oops my mistake I forgot this will be swept under the carpet like everything else that you dont have an answer for cause you just dont know what to DO!
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