(Trinidad Express) DIRECTOR of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard last night gave the green light to officers of the Professional Standards Bureau to lay two criminal charges against the female Special Reserve Police (SRP) officer who was involved in an incident last Saturday that was captured on video, which showed the officer vigorously pushing Robbie Ramcharitar in a wheelchair down High Street, San Fernando, in oncoming traffic.
The officer was charged around 8.30 p.m. with causing malicious damage and assault by beating. Her male counterpart, who was seen slapping Ramcharitar to the face and head, is to be placed on an identification parade today at a police station in the Southern Division before any move is made for charges to be laid against him. If he is pointed out during the parade by Ramcharitar, he is to be charged with misbehaviour in public office. Public relations officer with the Police Service Supt Joanne Archie confirmed last night that Gaspard gave the directive to charge the WPC but stated the charge had not been laid up to 8 p.m. She said if the male officer is pointed out during the identification parade today, they “may both be charged together”.
Earlier yesterday, both officers were again interviewed by Professional Standards Bureau officers in Port of Spain. Following the completion of the interview, the officers met with Gaspard sometime around 6.30 p.m. after which the directions were given. Other police sources said if the officers are charged today, it is possible they may be granted bail by a Justice of the Peace at the police station and be made to appear in the San Fernando Magistrates’ Court on Monday. “If they are charged, I doubt that they will be kept in custody over the entire weekend,” the source said. The video footage, which was captured along High Street, San Fernando, showed 46-year-old Ramcharitar, a paraplegic having his wheelchair pushed down the roadway in traffic by a uniformed female officer. “If you think you mad, I more mad,” the officer was heard saying. The chair later came to a stop after it made contact with the side of a parked white car. Ramcharitar was then urged by the man filming the video to “drive back up the road.” It was after doing so that Ramcharitar was approached by the male officer, dressed in civilian wear, who slapped him across the face and head three times.
The video went viral on Facebook resulting in many expressing outrage over the incident, with some citizens calling for the immediate dismissal of the officers, who were both last attached to the Mon Repos Police Station in San Fernando. Several vendors and store employees who said they witnessed the incident said Ramcharitar was spitting and using obscene language and racial slurs to passers-by, and he appeared intoxicated before the officers became involved. Following the release of the video, acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams ordered an immediate investigation into the incident. The officers were instructed to cease duties pending the outcome of the criminal charges.
