Brothers Stephen and Antwon Embrack, of the community of Meadow Brook in Georgetown, have been placed on bail totalling $170,000 after their arraignment on Wednesday in Chief Magistrate Faith McGusty’s Georgetown court to answer charges in relation to a violent altercation with police officers on Camp Street in Georgetown.
The brawl between the officers and the brothers
Among the multiple charges these men face are assault causing actual bodily harm and malicious damage to property.
Defence lawyer Domnick Bess told the court that the altercation began when the brothers, who had been conducting business at the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA), returned to find their vehicle clamped.
An exchange of words ensued between the 30-year-old Stephen and Police officer Elton Graham, and Stephen reportedly pulled out his phone to record the encounter, but the police officer allegedly snatched it from him.
The 23-year-old Antwon reportedly intervened, but another officer, identified as Ubert Allicock, struck him to the head with a police helmet, precipitating a full-blown physical altercation, with punches being thrown between the brothers and the officers.
Stephen and Antwon have been jointly charged with two counts of malicious damage to property: two police regulation shirts each valued at $3,500. They have also been jointly charged with two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, relative to the injuries allegedly inflicted on officers Graham and Allicock. The men have pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Stephen is also facing a separate charge of malicious damage to property, for allegedly damaging a police-issued body camera valued at $147,000. He has pleaded not guilty to this charge as well.
In applying for bail for his clients, defense attorney Dominic Bess told the court that the men had acted in self-defense, and pointed out that neither Stephen nor Antwon had any prior conviction or pending matter before the court.
Magistrate McGusty has placed Stephen on bail in the sum of $110,000 as follows: $10,000 for the damage done to each of the police shirts; $20,000 for each of the two assault charges; and $50,000 for damage done to the police body camera.
Antwon, who is facing fewer charges, has been placed on $60,000 bail as follows: $10,000 for damage done to each of the police shirts, and $20,000 for each of the two assault charges.
The brothers are expected to return to court on April 16.
Court proceedings come just days after the Guyana Police Force (GPF) had issued a statement addressing the video of the confrontation, which has gone viral, being widely shared on social media. The statement distanced the Force from the officers’ actions, while also warning against attacks on law enforcement officers.
The Force has emphasized that members of the public should not assault officers in the execution of their duties.
