Police have not yet completed their investigation of the Phagwah Day beating of two men by Canal Number One residents, who accused them of removing two rearview mirrors from a car that was parked in the community.
One of the men, Dameion Gordon, told Stabroek News yesterday that he and the other man, Vernon Beckles, on Monday met with ‘D’ Division Commander Leslie James, who indicated that the investigation was ongoing.
Gordon said that he is concerned at the length of time that the investigation is taking—the incident happened on the night of March 12—since both he and Beckles are very anxious to clear their names. “My only concern right now is for my name to be cleared and for Beckles’ name to be cleared,” he said.
Asked if was not interested in the persons who assaulted them being charged and placed before the court, the man said it is not a priority. “I lose interest in doing anything with the assault because my main concern is not having my name out there as a thief,” the man said.
He added that they were very concerned when an online news agency reported that they were slated to appear in court on Monday. As a result, they immediately journeyed to the Leonora Police Station, where they met with James, who said the police had made no decision to charge them.
Gordon had told this newspaper that they were taken to the area by friends and were about to have a drink when the incident occurred. He said they had just exited the car and were following their friends into the shop when Beckles was attacked by the owner of the car from which mirrors were reportedly removed. He said others joined in and he went to Beckles’ assistance and was also beaten. He said during the beating racial slurs were shouted at them.
Police, in a press release days after the incident, said they were investigating the matter and that they had so far found that the men were accused of stealing the mirrors. Police said that several persons swarmed them and began questioning them and that Gordon fled into a canal. Both men denied stealing the mirrors.
The mirrors, the police said, were later found by Guyana Defence Force (GDF) rank Ewart Lewis, who had taken the men to the village, under another vehicle which was parked in close proximity to the vehicle they were removed from. “Whilst in the trench, the alleged irate residents threw bricks and other objects at Gordon, while the other was detained by residents,” the police release said.
The two men were later taken to the hospital for treatment.
“The Guyana Police Force wishes to caution media houses which rush to publicize episodes given to them but which later turned out to be exceedingly erroneous.
The Force also wishes [to] note that connotations of vigilantism were published in certain sections of the media but which are unsubstantiated based on statements obtained from members of the public, some of whom were involved in this incident on the day in question,” the police release said. “It is not the first time that persons who are suspected of having committed an offence invoke[d] the wrath of members of the public and while we frown and warn against these behaviours as being unacceptable, the reality is that one cannot necessarily immediately determine what a spontaneous action will be,” it added.
