Three members of the John family, who were allegedly assaulted by police ranks during a raid at their Agricola home last Saturday, have been charged with unlawfully assaulting a peace officer, behaving disorderly and obstructing a police officer.
Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson yesterday placed Owen John on self-bail when he appeared before her at the Georgetown Magistrate’s Court.
John had informed the court that his sons Fabio and Michael John were not aware that they were also charged and so were not informed that they had to appear in court.
Owen John denied that he unlawfully assaulted Assistant Superintendent of Police Dinard Cambridge, while he was executing his duties at their home at Romulus Street, Agricola, East Bank Demerara on May 2.
He had also denied that on the same day he behaved disorderly.
He said that on the day in question about 4 am he and his family were awakened by a loud noise. He said when he got up to enquire where it was coming from he saw a policeman on his fence. Owen John said he demanded that the officer get off his fence. He said another police officer then asked him to open the gate. While he was getting the keys to do so, he alleged, a police officer threatened to kill his dog for barking loudly.
He said when the police got to him he enquired why they were at his home and was informed that there were looking for arms, ammunition and drugs.
Owen John went on to say that at that point a policeman told him “ah warning yuh big man shut yuh mouth.”
He alleged that as he was objecting to the search which was done without a warrant “one ah them tell another one to arrest me while another seh fuh shoot me.”
He said that when his son, Michael, came upstairs to enquire what was going on, he was slapped and when he asked why he was slapped he was slapped again.
He said Fabio then came upstairs three policemen jumped on him while another choked him.
He said he overheard a policeman saying that he had always given them trouble whenever they had to search his home. Owen John noted that this was the third time that his house was raided.
On the last occasion his daughter, Michelle John, was traumatized for days afterwards, he said. Michelle John is a local table tennis star, who is currently studying overseas. Owen John further stated that he and his sons were taken to the police station where they were kept for about eight hours and at one point had to expose their private parts.
The prosecution made no objection to John’s bail application when he requested it.
The magistrate subsequently placed John on self-bail and ordered that he return to court on June 12.
Owen John is the Chairperson of the Rome Athletics Club and also a Vice President in the Agricola Restoration Association. Fabio is a trained teacher at a primary school in Agricola, while Michael is currently a student at the University of Guyana and a layout artist at a newspaper.