Police officer in beating video charged

THE police constable who was arrested on Monday morning after he was caught on tape slapping a man to the face before taking him away in a police vehicle was charged late yesterday evening and will appear before a Port of Spain magistrate this morning.

The officer, who was arrested at his home in South Trinidad by officers of the Police Service's Professional Standard Bureau, was positively identified during an identification parade at the Port of Spain Criminal Investigations Department (CID).

Officers later sought the advice of Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard SC, who gave the all-clear to lay a charge of misconduct in public office against the officer.

A video recording of the officer slapping the man had gone viral on social networking sites three weeks ago. It showed 40-year-old Terrence Augustine being slapped across the face before being arrested. The incident took place at St Margaret's Junction in Claxton Bay.

Augustine has since been charged with assaulting PC Richard Kishore in the execution of his duties, using insulting language and resisting arrest. He is currently out on bail in the sum of $20,000.

The investigation leading to the arrest of the officer was spearheaded by Acting Assistant Commissioner Solomon Koon Koon and the charge was laid by Sgt Kent Ghisyawan of the Professional Standards Bureau.

Reproduced from Express Trinidad

Top CoP Condemns action of Rogue Officer

Acting Commissioner of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams

"Reprehensible, unacceptable and unprofessional." were the words of acting Commission of Police (CoP) Stephen Williams,to describe the action of a police officer who slapped in a citizen in the face before taking him to a marked police car.  

"The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service will never support officers behaving in such unacceptable manners. I see it as unprofessional and we are really working hard at getting a professional organisation and it is incidents like these which take away from the hard work of officers as we seek to build a professional organisation," Williams added.

Williams said the matter is being "effectively addressed" and has been deemed as "high priority". However the said the officer in question will remain on duty during the investigation.

Other viewers of the video were, Minister of Security Jack Warner and head of the Police Complaints Authority Gillian Lucky.

Williams said the matter is being "effectively addressed", with investigations being conducted by both the Police Service's Professional Standards Unit and the Police Complaints Authority .

Meanwhile,Terrence Augustine, who has been identified as the man slapped in the video, appeared before a San Fernando magistrate on Tuesday charged with resisting arrest, assaulting the officer and using insulting language.

Augustine is said to have assaulted constable Richard Kishore.