Caption: Allister Guevarro

 

By Alicia Chamely

THE widely shared footage of Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) officers fatally shooting Joshua Samaroo and wounding his common in law wife Kaia Sealy does not show the full scope of what transpired and the public is being urged not to judge the actions of the TTPS based on the last five minutes of a 12-minute pursuit.

In a voice statement sent to the media on Monday, Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro addressed the public calls for officers to be suspended and accusations of abuse of power during the current State of Emergency.

Guevarro said, “A video lasting five minutes and 29 seconds has been circulating online, which captured 15 seconds of gunfire. While this footage has sparked widespread commentary and calls for the suspension of the officers involved, an abuse of police powers in the State of Emergency, it is critical to clarify that the incident did not occur because of any State of Emergency or using any emergency powers granted to the police under the SOE this was strictly routine Police functions being carried out when this incident occurred.”

He said the video circulating on social media did not show what led up to the shooting, nor did it give the full scope of the situation the police were dealing with and therefore should not be used to draw conclusions as to what transpired.

Guevarro said, “The shooting incident followed a 12-minute vehicle pursuit that began in Maloney in the northern division north at 12:30pm and ended in Saint Augustine in North Central Division at 12:42pm.”

“I want to highlight that the video shared publicly represents only the final seconds of This pursuit and does not reflect the full scope of the events,” he said.

Discussing the investigations into the matter, Guevarro said he considered releasing police video footage to the public but advised not to do so as this could compromise the investigation.

He said, “I had considered releasing additional video recordings and audio in the public interest, legal advice cautioned against doing so, as it may prejudice the integrity of the investigation. The TTPs remains committed to accountability, that accountability must be exercised fairly and without compromising due process. Should any wrongdoing be identified upon completion of these investigations, decisive and appropriate action will be taken, but at this time, I’m asking the public to allow the investigative process to proceed.”

Guevarro stated after reviewing all footage and evidence into the matter he found “no basis” to suspend the officers or put anyone on administrative leave.

He said, however, he had recommended counselling for the officers involved.

On January 20, officers attached to the North Eastern Division (NED) were alerted to a high-speed chase, which was reported to have begun in Maloney around 12.30 pm.

Officers spotted the vehicle speeding on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway and joined their colleagues in the pursuit of a white Toyota Aqua.

Police reported the occupants of the Aqua opened fire on the officer. Police returned fire in accordance with the TTPS’s Use of Force Policy.

The two occupants of the vehicle were wounded and the driver lost control of the vehicle, which crashed into a shallow drain at the corner of Dookiesingh Street and Bassie Street Extension, St Augustine.

Samaroo, 31, died from his injuries, while Sealy, 24, was severely injured.

Video circulating on social media, shows police approaching the crashed vehicle with their weapons drawn and who appears to be Samaroo holding a white cloth in both hands out of the driver’s side window. Moments later, police appeared to have opened fire, fatally wounding Samaroo.

Online commentators, based on what they believe could be interpreted as a surrender by Samaroo, have called for the officers to be suspended and investigated for the use of excessive force.

The incident has also triggered speculation that police powers could be abused in the upcoming Zones of Special Operations.