The fatal shooting of Bare Root, East Coast Demerara resident, Teon Maxwell by the police on Saturday, has raised questions about breaches of the Guyana Police Force’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP’s).
Maxwell, 24, a father of one, was shot and killed by the police in the compound of the Vigilance Police Station on Saturday morning, when he reportedly attempted to escape in a force vehicle after being taken into custody for threatening to kill his wife.
Maxwell sustained a single gunshot wound and was rushed to the George-town Public Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The actions of the police during the apprehension, escort and detention of Maxwell, have raised a number of questions, including on the techniques they used to subdue Maxwell; the search carried out on his person, since he was still armed after being taken into custody and managed to injure two ranks during his escape attempt; and their failure to shackle or handcuff him even after he was taken to the police station.
The police also discharged several rounds, resulting in Maxwell’s death, instead of shooting to injure or aiming to stop him from escaping.
Another major concern was that the Guyana Police Force vehicle which Maxwell used in an effort to escape, was left unattended in the compound, with the ignition on.
When asked on Saturday about the process used to apprehend and detain Maxwell and whether any of the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were breached, Commander of ‘C’ Division Calvin Brutus, said that a thorough investigation has been launched and all aspects of the matter will be looked into.
He noted that during the investigation, the fact that Maxwell was acting disorderly throughout the process also has to be taken into context.
“Well, we will look at all the different areas to be investigated moving on from today. We don’t know the full extent as yet. Based on what was narrated, his (Maxwell) behaviour from yesterday (Friday)— and there were previous reports as well, not only yesterday—indicated that he was violent and on today’s date, from the place of where he was arrested to the station, throughout he was disorderly, so those things need to be taken into context as well,” Brutus had explained.
Brutus had related to reporters that around 9 pm last Friday, Maxwell’s reputed wife, Belinda Thomas, lodged a report with the police of Maxwell threatening to kill her with a cutlass and a hammer.
He said the police were dispatched to the area but Maxwell managed to escape.
However, on Saturday, a new report of threats were made against Maxwell, Brutus said.
The police again went to the area in order to arrest him, and met Maxwell bearing a cutlass and hammer in his hand.
Brutus explained that the patrol that responded initially could not have addressed the situation. As a result, it called for assistance and another patrol responded. “And it was more than what they could handle. Also, some other persons went. So three patrols responded, they managed to subdue him, took away the cutlass, took away the hammer,“ Brutus had added.
Maxwell was then escorted to the Vigilance Police Station.
“And just inside the enquiries office, but not behind the counter, he (Maxwell) resisted, he pull out a knife that he allegedly had in his waist because apparently the search wasn’t done correctly and as a result, two police were injured in the fracas that followed,” Brutus added.
“The vehicle keys was left in the ignition and the vehicle was left just outside the enquiries office. The young man (Maxwell) got in the driver seat and drove off the vehicle. However, he crashed into another of our vehicles that was parked closer to the gate,” he had further explained.
While he was being processed at the enquiries office of the station, the police had said Maxwell reportedly whipped out a knife and attacked two subordinate officers, who tried to subdue him.
The ranks, a Sergeant and a Corporal, sustained minor injuries about their bodies and were taken to a hospital for medical treatment.
Maxwell’s mother, Shellon Moses December, had related to Stabroek News that her son is known for displaying such behaviour.
The woman explained that last Saturday, Maxwell allegedly assulted Thomas and she encouraged the woman to report the matter to the police.
Last Friday night, she added, Maxwell allegedly chased Thomas with a hammer and she again reported the matter to the police, who asked her to return on Saturday.
“The police tell she (Thomas) come back today (Saturday). She come back today. When the police tell she come back today right, he deh in my yard, sit down pun me back step, sharpening he knife. So I called Vigilance. Ah seh ‘right now me son deh on the back step, sharpening a knife, y’all come now,” December added.
She said the police did not respond immediately.
“So she (Thomas), my daughter-in-law, come back the station and bring the police. When the police come now, my son get…two hammer; one in he right side waist, one in he [left] side waist, two knife in he hand and he cutlass, running the police all ova Bare Root…from the middle street to by where me live…running the police all ova. Then he seh, he ain’t gah money if he gah go home back. I give him a thousand dollars. He jump in the police vehicle with all he weapon. Not the cutlass. He left the cutlass under somebody house. The two hammer and the two knife. He come at the station with it,” December further explained.
She said when she arrived at the police station, she saw Maxwell seated in the driver’s seat of the police vehicle in a pool of blood.
