The Tribune

By AVA TURNQUEST

Tribune Staff Reporter

aturnquest@tribunemedia.net

AN EAST Street family yesterday condemned the behaviour of police officers that led to the hospitalisation of a man with internal bleeding. Last night, 34-year-old Leslie Louis said he now suffers from frequent dizzy spells and “heaviness” in his head since he was allegedly beaten by police at a family meeting to prepare for his mother’s funeral.

Mr Louis spoke to The Tribune while under police guard in a male surgical ward at the Princess Margaret Hospital. Although he has been arrested several times with no charges, Mr Louis said he did not know why he was sought out by police on Sunday night.

Nurses at the ward said they could not provide details to relatives about Mr Louis’ condition. Mr Louis said doctors told him he had a blood clot in his head and internal bleeding.

According to witnesses several police officers repeatedly “stomped” Mr Louis, after slamming his head against the side of the East Street South residence.

That evening, officers also arrested Mr Louis’ sister,

Esline Delva, and her husband, Davidson Isma, for disorderly conduct as they questioned the presence of the police at their home.

The couple was released from the Quackoo Street Police Station yesterday afternoon on a $3,000 bond for charges of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Last night Mrs Delva saw her brother for the first time since the incident.

On Sunday evening a small group of family members had gathered at the back of the house to plan the obituary for 57-year-old Svani Charity’s funeral. The matriarch had died last Wednesday.

The meeting was interrupted by two police officers, who reportedly told the group that if they were doing anything illegal they should cease immediately. It is unclear at what point, but another police car was also called to the scene.

A relative called out to Mr Louis after seeing the officers, and shouted: “Where were you today Leslie, the police are here!” Mr Louis emerged from the house and replied that he had been home all day. He reportedly told officers that his family was planning a funeral and did not have time for “foolishness”.

Mrs Delva said: “They took him (Louis) to the front of the house, saying they were going to ID him, and I said for what. What did he do? The officer said ‘get your ass in the back’, I said I’m not moving because this is my brother. I want to know what’s wrong before I move. And that’s when he started pushing me, I had my baby in my hand.”

“He kept pushing me and I said this is wrong, our mother just died, no kind of remorse for nobody. And that’s when one officer said ‘put her in the car, put her in the car’. I said this is not right, we are in a time of mourning.”

Mrs Delva said that as she stepped back another officer grabbed her throat and began to force her head into a police car with the baby in tow. Another family member grabbed the baby before she entered the vehicle, according to Mrs Delva, who said that the officer did not lessen his force during the exchange.

After witnessing his wife and baby under attack, Mr Isma said he attempted to go to her, but was also restrained by police and put in handcuffs.

While in the police car, Mrs Delva said she saw officers beat her brother who had also become agitated over her arrest.

One family member alleged that as an officer hit Mr Louis, the officer said: “You think I is play, you gon’ learn today”.

Mrs Delva said: “They (police) bucked his head to the wall, and then were stomping all over him. I saw them. I kept screaming ‘oh God, this is wrong, this is wrong’. In the car I started speaking in Creole, saying no this is not what my mother wanted. And the Inspector said ‘shut up in here, ya’ll believe ya’ll come to take over this country’. Just like that.”

Mrs Delva said she is a Bahamian.

Family members said it was the first time that police had come to the residence; however they admitted that Mr Louis had been arrested by police before.

All officers were men, according to Mrs Delva, who said the first time she saw a woman officer was when her statement was recorded shortly before her release. The woman officer took Mrs Delva’s statement sometime before noon yesterday.

The Tribune has withheld the names of police officers identified by witnesses; however, it can be revealed that the commanding Inspector is attached to the Mobile Police division.

Attempts to reach police for comment were unsuccessful yesterday. Press liaison Supt Stephen Dean advised The Tribune to put questions directly to the executive command.