Security guard alleges police harassment

Apr 03, 2016 News

…has video of ordeal
Andre La Rose , an East Bank Demerara man is alleging police harassment after an altercation between him and a member of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) on Friday.

A stillshot of the altercation. La Rose (white t-shirt) and the Police inspector.

Andre La Rose, a resident of Grove Housing Scheme, is a security guard attached to Single Seafoods, which is located aback of the Ruimveldt Police Station, East Bank Demerara.
The man said that he was on duty when a Route 42 minibus approached the driveway some time around 10:00hrs on Friday.
La Rose said that he confronted the driver and inquired what his intentions were.
“I ask what he wanted, and how long he will park there. I told him that he cannot block the active driveway. The front seat passenger jump out and ask how if I know who the (vulgarity) he is and how the bus can park any (edit) where.
“He tell me that he was a police inspector and when I ask he to show me his ID, he didn’t,” La Rose said.
“He snatch me by my belt and start pulling me and tugging me and getting on,”
La Rose continued that he was just doing his job. He said that all security personnel were on high alert since just a few weeks ago his employer was robbed of some $20M.
“He tugging me and telling me that he was a police officer. He take out he phone and call Ruimveldt (Police Station) and tell them to bring a van for me.”
La Rose said that after the “van” arrived, the officers looked at him and smiled then left. He is of the opinion that he was not arrested because the matter was a “li’l breeze” and the police knew that he was not a troublemaker.
The man said that he subsequently visited the Police Complaints Authority and made a report against the man who claimed to be a police inspector.
The matter was then reported to the Brickdam Police Station. La Rose said that he has a video of what transpired and will not stop at anything until justice is served.
“I am afraid to even walk out the street to catch a bus to go home,”
When contacted yesterday, the ‘A’ Divisional Commander, Clifton Hicken, confirmed that the man was indeed a police inspector.
However, according to Hicken, the Inspector stated that he was in the bus when he was approached by La Rose who asked how long he was going to stay there. The inspector, according to the commander, said that La Rose became abusive.
An attempt was made to arrest La Rose but it was unsuccessful.
Hicken stated that the matter is currently under investigation.