Unlicensed biker accuses Police of physical assault

– OPR launches investigation

An East Canje, Berbice man, who admitted to riding a motorbike without a valid driver’s license, is now accusing two police ranks of physically assaulting him.
Rawl Carter, 27, of Fort Ordinance Housing Scheme, Canje, Region Six (East Berbice-Corentyne), said the incident occurred two Saturdays ago.

According to him, he borrowed his friend’s motorbike to go for a short ride when he was intercepted by two police ranks who were on patrol.
He explained that he was asked to produce his driver’s license and he complied. Upon checking, however, the police realised that the license had expired and duly informed the motorcyclist.
“The police rank then asked me for the documents for the bike… I told him that the documents were with the owner so I went on my cellphone and got on to my friend who immediately ran over and presented the documents,” Carter explained.
He said prior to his friend arriving; the officer requested him to hand over the key to the bike but in the same breath he attempted to put his hand into Carter’s pants pocket to retrieve same.
At that time, he related that he objected and in retaliation, the officer reportedly grabbed him by the shirt.
“I ask him why he harassing me. It did not come to this. I told him that I was complying to the requests all the time.”
The owner of the bike, Roydon Maltay, arrived at the scene just in time to see the ranks trying to arrest Carter.
“When I meet, I see the big scuffle, so I start running going towards them. The two police hold onto Rawl… one holding him by his jersey and trying to put him in the police vehicle… they then tried to push him in the vehicle but he and them had a big scuffle. So, I said ‘look the documents here, I didn’t come to all of this…. Rawl jersey de done tear up so he left the scene.”
According to Carter, the police officer who assaulted him lives in the same area as him and more so, he is known to the officer.
He added that after the incident occurred, he reported it to his mother who in turn made a report to the Central Police Station in New Amsterdam.
Upon meeting with a senior police officer, he ordered that the ceased motorbike be returned to the owner.
Meanwhile, two days later, Carter said he went to meet the Regional Commander, who has since ordered an investigation into his accusation.
The investigation is being done by the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). Carter told <Guyana Times that up to Monday last, no report was made against him in relation to the incident.
“They had Saturday night, Sunday and Monday morning up to 8 o’clock and they had nothing about resisting arrest or assaulting a police officer as they claimed I did.”
Carter was subsequently told that there are four charges against him and as such, he is contending that on the day in question, he was never told that he was under arrest.