OPR completes probe into death of man at police station

Jun 15, 2025 News

…file to be sent to DPP for advice

OPR completes probe into death of man at police station

Delon Lawrence

Kaieteur News – The Guyana Police Force’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) has completed its investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of 37-year-old Delon Lawrence, who died at the Parfait Harmonie Police Station in March.

Police in a statement on Saturday said that the police file will be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) for legal advice on Monday, June 16, 2025. One suspect was recently arrested and questioned in relation to Lawrence’s death, police said.

Lawrence, of Lot 10 De Kinderen, West Coast Demerara, was on a Route 31 minibus on March 15th, 2025, when he was accused of stabbing a female passenger with a knife and was beaten by concerned citizens.

He was arrested by police and taken to the La Grange Police Station, then to the Parfaite Harmonie Police Station, but was later pronounced dead by Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) while in police custody.

“Inquiries revealed that around 21:00hrs. on the aforementioned date and time, the victim was in Georgetown when she entered a route 31 minibus heading to Wales. She was seated at the rear of the vehicle near a window, alongside another female and the suspect. According to the victim, the suspect pulled a knife from his pants waist and began behaving (disorderly), attacking her and other passengers,” police said in March.

The commotion resulted in the driver bringing the bus to a halt and the passengers exiting. However, Jones was left alone with Lawrence who allegedly grabbed her hair, and stabbed her to the head, neck, face and hand multiple times. After some time, she managed to escape her attacker and exit the bus.

He followed her and had to be subdued by public-spirited citizens who saw what happened and rendered assistance to an injured Jones, after which the police were summoned.

“The victim was transported by public-spirited individuals to the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where she was treated and sent away. Upon the police arrival at the scene, the suspect was observed being pursued by angry civilians who had already inflicted injuries on him, including swelling to his eyes and head,” the police said.

Attempts were made by a constable to apprehend Lawrence but he attacked the rank by lifting and throwing him to the ground and placing him in a chokehold. Onlookers ran to the police’s rescue resulting in Lawrence being handcuffed and taken to the La Grange Police Station.

Lawrence continued to behave disorderly while in custody. Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT) were summoned and Lawrence was subsequently taken to the La Parfaite Harmonie Police Station where he was placed in the hallway of the lockups. Police said he was being monitored at regular intervals as they awaited the arrival of the EMT. He was responsive at that time.

“At approximately 01:57 hrs. on March 16, 2025, a rank observed the suspect unresponsive during a routine check. The duty officer was immediately informed, and EMT was contacted again, and they responded and assessed the suspect, who was subsequently pronounced dead by a doctor on the team,” the police revealed.

On Monday, April 14, 2025, at 11:25 hrs., a post mortem examination with dissection was conducted on the body of the deceased and his cause of death was determined to be subdural haemorrhage due to blunt trauma to the head compounded by multiple fractured ribs.

Delon Lawrence, Guyana Police Force, Office of Professional Responsibility, Parfait Harmonie

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