BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE files of the two police officers involved in the shooting of a 55-year-old security guard on Pinney’s Beach and that of teenager in Enrique Bar, respectively, have been sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The disclosure was made this afternoon (Nov. 1) during a brief interview with Acting Commissioner of Police Stafford Liburd.
“The files of the two officers were sent to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. In terms of the officer who is involved in the Pinney’s Beach incident, the Violent Crimes Unit and the Office of Professional Standards have already completed their investigation and have preferred disciplinary charges against him.
“In terms of the other officer, a file from the Violent Crimes Unit was submitted to the Office of the DPP but investigations into the matter by the Office of Professional Standards are ongoing,” Liburd told SKNVibes.
He explained that the files were sent to the Office of the DPP for direction and that the police are awaiting “the rulings”.
When asked why the file involving the Enrique Bar’s incident was sent to the DPP’s Office while the matter is still being investigated by the Office of Professional Standards, the Ag. Commissioner said “that has nothing to do with what goes and comes from the Office of the DPP. That is strictly for internal purposes such as disciplinary action”.
In the wee hours of Saturday (Sept. 19), a police officer allegedly shot 55-year-old Steadroy ‘Seamoss’ Sutton while he was executing his security duties at the Turtle Times Restaurant on Pinney’s Beach.
He had sustained gunshot wounds to his groin and lower back.
The officer has since been slapped with two disciplinary charges and suspended with half month’s pay.
The other incident took place on Saturday (Oct. 17) at approximately 3:45 a.m. at Enrique Bar in Charlestown, where there was an altercation which resulted in the shooting-death of 17-year-old Philo Wallace of Hamilton Village and the wounding of a police officer.
The wounded officer was off-duty at the time and was said to have used his service firearm that killed the teenager.
Following the incident, the Police High Command held a press conference on Monday (Oct. 19) and had informed the media that investigations would be conducted by the Violent Crimes Unit and the Office of Professional Standards.
That decision did not go down well with many people, who voiced that the police should not investigate their own, but the High Command had promised that the police’s investigations in both matters would be thorough and transparent.
