BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE Police Officer of Nevis Division, who allegedly shot a security guard in the wee hours of Saturday (Sept. 19) at Pinney’s Beach, was on Wednesday (Sept. 30) slapped with two charges relating to the offence.
Speaking at a press briefing yesterday afternoon (Oct. 1), Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd told media operatives that the officer was charged with disciplinary offences.
“The officer in that matter was charged yesterday with two disciplinary offences regarding the use of his firearm.”
When asked to make public the name of the officer as is the custom when one is charged, Liburd said he would not do so, adding that the officer was not criminally charged and the matter is still under investigation.
“We will not disclose the officer because it is not custom and practice to disclose to the public every officer who is charged for disciplinary offence. It is not the practice and we will not start the practice today.”
One media representative pointed out that “it wasn’t something taken lightly and from what we are hearing is that the victim was left on the scene with two gunshot wounds and the officer reportedly left the scene...there are some serious implications from this entire incident”.
In response the Acting Commissioner said: “The investigation is ongoing dealing with discipline here in one part and dealing with another side of it. Hence it is not appropriate for certain safety and security to disclose at the moment the officer’s name. But he has been charged, the trial will come up, will come forward and we have not even disclosed either the victim at the moment...And it is not part of it, our practice in discipline.
“If he is charged in any other manner, that will be disclosed. But it is not a practice by the police to disclose officers who are charged disciplinary.”
Following the shooting incident, a police communiqué had stated: “An investigation into this incident is currently being conducted by the (RSCNPF) Office of Professional Standards. In the interim, the officer involved is assigned to desk duties. Upon completion and review of the investigation, appropriate actions will be taken.”
As a result, Liburd was asked if the embattled officer was still assigned to desk duties or suspended, to which he said the officer is currently not functioning in his regular duties.
Liburd confirmed that the officer was assigned to desk duties but had proceeded on sick leave.
“He has returned today [yesterday), he is on desk duty; he has returned on sick leave. He is not operational or functional in his regular capacity as a police officer. We will discuss of other options that can be taken among us when we finish this evening with fellow Commissioners as to further steps that may be taken legally and lawfully.”
Fifty-five-year-old Steadroy ‘Seamoss’ Sutton, who is employed at the Turtle Times Restaurant on Pinney’s Beach as a security guard, was reportedly shot twice while carrying out his security duties. He had sustained gunshot wounds to his groin and lower back.
Speaking with the victim on the day after the incident, the St. Kitts-Nevis Observer reported that at about 2:00 a.m. on the day in question, Sutton claimed that while on duty clad in his security uniform, he had observed a person walking from the direction of Sunshine Bar and Restaurant towards the Turtle Times Restaurant and started urinating in the yard of the establishment.
The media house further reported that Sutton had walked towards the restaurant in order to call the police when the person opened fire in his direction, hitting him once.
“I walked up the building to take up my book to call an officer to report the guy. The person found me right at the building and said he wanted to make the call himself. He then took off the gun and shot me,” the guard recounted to the Observer’s reporter.
Sutton also reportedly told the reporter that after the first shot, he jumped on the person but after realising the wound was bleeding, he released his hold on him.
“I went back and as I turned around, he shot me in the back. I ran to the bandstand and interrupted the vocalist," adding that the vocalist called the police and on the arrival of an officer he was taken to the hospital at 3:00 a.m.
