By RASHAD ROLLE
Tribune Staff Reporter
rrolle@tribunemedia.net
A HAITIAN man whose rough arrest was captured in a viral video has alleged that an immigration officer told him he was beaten because he has a job at BTC when many Bahamians can’t find employment.
Evince Gaston, 31, travelled in a BTC van to a Haitian village on Joe Farrington Road where he encountered immigration officers on Friday. An altercation followed between himself and three immigration officers, which was captured on cell phone video. The altercation, he alleged yesterday, left him with bloodshot eyes, a scrape on his face and minor bruises to his back and neck.
In the video, an officer hits him in the back of his head, shouting “don’t play with me” and “boy catch yourself, boy catch yourself!” In a second video, Mr Gaston is presumed to be on the ground being restrained by several officers crowded around him.
The videos don’t capture what initially happened, Mr Gaston said yesterday.
“I was on my BTC job,” he said. “Immigration meet me there doing my job. One of them come to me and ask me for my paper and my wallet was in the van. They don’t give me chance to go get it, they just slap me, they punch me on my face couple times.”
He claimed the videos don’t show when an officer “put me on the ground and beat me again,” he said.
He also alleged: “They put me on the bus and slap me again on the bus. When I reach, they left the handcuff on me for two hours, then took me to the police station and then to the hospital.”
Mr Gaston, who is no longer in custody, said he has worked as a BTC sales agent for almost two years. He said he has legal status to be in the country. He also said he is in the process of taking legal action because of what happened.
“I was terrified because he came to me in an aggressive way,” he claimed.
He said BTC has been supportive of him throughout the ordeal.
On Sunday, Immigration Director Clarence Russell said his department’s internal investigation team is probing the matter. However, he urged people not to jump to conclusions based on a few seconds of video.
“All citizens of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and visitors alike are presumed innocent until proven guilty or until such time as said suspect enters a plea of guilt,” he said. “That constitutional right extends to all and sundry, sworn officers included.
“In the absence of all of the facts of evidence, one should refrain from presuming innocence or guilt, given any circumstance. Especially those social media based. The matter to which you make reference is now the subject of a thorough police investigation and that of my Immigration Department’s internal investigation teams.”
Mr Russell continued: “I remind members of the public that in all circumstances, the statute laws of this nation shall be carried out, without malice, favour, prejudice, ill-will or fear. Uniformed on-duty officers have a lawful duty to perform, in protecting the sovereignty of this nation. We will not be deterred.”
More like this story
- Haitian Man says he was told he was beaten because Bahamians could not find work while he was employed
- Immigration probe over barber shop incident ‘concluded by next week’
- Video shows policeman slapping man in club
- Video shows officer hitting man in face
- Haitian barbers ‘slapped’ and ‘beaten’ by men dressed as immigration officers
Comments
Chucky 4 years, 10 months ago
Them officers deserve a big dose of their own medicine.
tell_it_like_it_is 4 years, 10 months ago
These officers are ridiculous and nothing ever happens to them. So many people who are arrested are beaten by officers and nothing happens to the officers. The Law Enforcement officers themselves need proper policing, so that they will be held accountable!
DonAnthony 4 years, 10 months ago
In large part our immigration department can be characterized as a group of ignorant, civil rights violating thugs. They as so unprofessional!
Well_mudda_take_sic 4 years, 10 months ago
The many policies of the corrupt Minnis-led FNM government that wrongfully favour illegal Haitian aliens over 'true' Bahamians are the explosive catalyst for all of this great hatred that now exists in our society. Minnis and his cabinet members have repeatedly betrayed and all but forgotten the 'true' Bahamian people!
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 10 months ago
whats a BTC van doing in a shanty town?
bogart 4 years, 10 months ago
He said he was on a BTC job and Immigration met him there doing his job on Friday. Question is was it a Haitian village under the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Supreme Court instructions not to be doing any construction activity etc and was it BTC aiding and abetting an illegal action? Also was the structures have legal verified Building Permits and is there a Bahamas of the Commonwealth Home Occupancy Certificate?
ThisIsOurs 4 years, 10 months ago
yes, that's also my question. I've never heard of "Haitian Villages" in Nassau other than illegal shanty towns. Where structures have no legal authority for any utility hookup... so when he said he was "on the job", that raised a question that the reporter should have clarified.
joeblow 4 years, 10 months ago
I have found it is always best to hear BOTH sides of a story before commenting! No doubt this story has two sides!
jamaicaproud 4 years, 10 months ago
Some of you guys love the "Haitian angle". Always try to put a spin. However when the strikes start and get out of control. Hotel, insurance board and others, These same goonsquads will be unleashed on so called real Bahamians. What will you say then?
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