CHARLESTOWN, Nevis – POLICE of the Nevis Division are currently investigating one of their own who is accused of shooting a 55-year-old security guard in the wee hours of Saturday (Sept. 19) at Pinney’s Beach.
The victim’s name was given as Steadroy ‘Seamoss’ Sutton, who is employed at the Turtle Times Restaurant on Pinney’s Beach as a security guard.
According to a police communiqué, Sutton is currently receiving treatment for his injuries at the Alexandra Hospital and members of the Police High Command and the Officer-in-Charge of the Nevis Division had paid him a visit.
The communiqué states: “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.”
According to the St. Kitts Nevis Observer, Sutton was shot twice while carrying out his security duties. He sustained gunshot wounds to his groin and lower back.
Speaking with the victim on the day after the incident, the 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 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.
SKNVibes was contacted this morning (Sept. 23) by a former middle manager of the Royal St. Christopher and Nevis Police Force, who on condition of anonymity stated his concern in the shooting incident.
He is of the strong view that the police should not be investigating the matter, but an independent body.
“I don’t believe that the police should be investigating the officer who allegedly shot the security guard. This task should be given to an independent body of capable civilians. For the police to investigate their own is like trying the devil in hell. I was there for over 25 years and I know the culture.”
The former police officer made reference to an article posted on this site when Commissioner Robert Jeffers took his last official salute as Head of the Police Force.
The article, headlined “Jeffers takes final Salute”, was published on Thursday, February 7, 2008, in which he made a number of recommendations, among which the establishment of a Police Complaint Authority outside of the Police Force “to deal with reports made by members of the public”.
Jeffers had pointed out that sometimes when complaints were made against police officers “culture kicks in…and I don’t think justice was done to members of the public”.
