Attorney Ryan Crawford, who was recorded delivering an expletive-laced tirade during a police traffic stop, was yesterday interviewed by police about the incident at the Whim Police Station in Berbice.
Stabroek News was told that the attorney visited the station sometime around 3 pm and was very cooperative. The attorney was released on his recognisance and the matter has since been referred back to the police in ‘C’ Division, where the incident transpired.
The police in ‘C’ Division yesterday told Stabroek News that they are awaiting advice as to the way forward.
Crawford sparked headlines after a video of his outburst, during which he used a stream of expletives while questioning a police rank who had stopped him on the public road, was shared widely on Facebook.
The video has caused many to condemn the behaviour of the attorney, while others have spoken out on his behalf, arguing that the police often abuse their power by stopping vehicles without suspecting them of committing a crime.
The attorney had also issued an apology for his behaviour but noted that he would remain defiant against any injustice. He had said that after waiting for a while and not being given any reason for the detention, he became angry, which led to him using many expletives to get his point across.
As a result of the wide circulation of the video, the Guyana Bar Association (GBA) on Saturday said it holds its members to the highest standards of ethics and conduct. It implored them to conduct themselves, at all times, in a manner befitting that of the “most noble and esteemed” profession. Pointing out that the matter is under investigation, the GBA said that it would refrain from commenting at this time. However, it expressed hope that the investigation will include the circumstances surrounding the recording, publication and sharing of the video.
The GBA also sought to describe the circumstances in which the police could stop a motorist. “We take this opportunity to inform the general public that a motorist can only be stopped by a uniformed police officer for due cause if he has formed the reasonable suspicion in his mind that an offence has been committed. That is, the police officer must have formed a reasonable suspicion in his mind of an offence prior to stopping the motorist. The officer is under a duty to identify himself and inform the motorist of the alleged offence,” the statement said. It added that a motorist is entitled to know the name, rank and identification number of the police officer and must comply with all lawful directions of the officer.
“We also put the general public on notice that the sharing and posting of such recordings on social media or in any such domain could give rise to the issue of the publication and sensationalism of obscene material for which they could be held liable,” the GBA said.
