...More charges to follow
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - A former member of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, who is allegedly responsible for the death of one of his colleagues and had fled the jurisdiction some five years ago, was yesterday (Nov. 29) charged with the offence of Manslaughter.
He is Dijon Warner of Conaree Village, whom a police media statement said had returned to the Federation yesterday, following a deportation order, after serving a five-year detention in the United States.
The media statement noted that after his arrival at the RLB International Airport, Warner was taken into custody and transported to the Basseterre Police Station where he was charged with Manslaughter in relation to the 2016 death of Dominican-born Police Constable Brian Pacquette.
In a 2016 media statement, police said that “on 23 June, 2016, Constable Pacquette received gunshot injuries to his right leg in the execution of his duties”.
He was warded at the JNF General Hospital but was transferred for to the West Shore Medical Facility in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago via Air Ambulanceon on 27 June 2016.
“Sadly, despite the best efforts of the medical professionals on Monday 18th July, 2016 around 5:30 am Constable Pacquette passed away,” police had said in the statement.
Following that incident, police received heavy criticism after it was disclosed that one of their own was involved.
SKNVibes News had reported in 2018 that Warner was also accused of striking Gretson Isaac to the head with his service handgun, which rendered him unconscious and he had to seek treatment.
Police, at that time, confirmed that the incident was under investigation.
But it was later revealed by reliable sources that Warner was able to travel twice from the Federation without the Police Force even flagging him or his passport.
Back in 2018, it was learnt that he was able to travel to Barbados to obtain a United States visa and return to the Federation.
He subsequently tendered his resignation - which was denied - and left for the United States.
At that time, this media house had posed the following question to Commissioner Ian Queeley and his Deputy Hilroy Brandy on the matter: “SKNVibes learnt that the officer was also under investigation for allegedly gun-butting a male civilian who had to seek medical attention overseas. It was also learnt that he had travelled to Barbados, where he obtained a visa to the USA. Therefore, since he was under investigation for two incidents, why was he allowed to depart the Federation on two different occasions?
In response, Brandy said: “We didn’t have that information that you just referred to, and the information asked for earlier concerning a citizen who was injured by the same officer...well, the Police Force is keeping him abreast. Just two weeks ago that said individual sat in my office along with ACP James and he was given a full disclosure of the progress of the investigation and he was quite satisfied with it.”
Queeley said: “The matter is under investigation. You came with information that we don’t have. The information that we have is that the gentleman absconded, so it is not that he was given permission to travel. He absconded and the necessary action was taken and, yes, we have been in contact with our colleagues overseas and the matter is under investigation, simple as that.”
Following that disclosure, the Top Cop contacted his colleagues in US, who located and arrested Warner.
