A PRISON officer has been arrested after being found with forbidden items at the Maximum Security Prison in Arouca.
The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS), in collaboration with the Trinidad and Tobago Prison Service, conducted a coordinated exercise on Wednesday morning which resulted in the arrest of the officer, a TTPS release stated.
The joint exercise, aimed at maintaining the integrity and security of the nation’s prisons, was coordinated by Commissioner of Police Allister Guevarro, Commissioner of Prisons Hayden Forde and Deputy Commissioner of Police Suzette Martin.
The TTPS reported that around 8 am, officers attached to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Operations) Team, led by ASP Stanley, along with Cpl Williams and Cpl Hyde, conducted random searches of prison officers arriving for duty at the prison.
During the exercise, a prison officer was searched and officers discovered: two vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana, one vacuum-sealed bag containing 69 Broadway cigarettes strapped to his body and 15 Astra razor blades in his wallet.
A subsequent search of the officer’s vehicle led to the discovery of:
• A clear plastic bag containing a quantity of marijuana
• Two digital scales
• Lighters
• One pair of scissors
• Two memory cards
• One pack of wrapping paper
• Two imitation firearms
The total weight of the marijuana seized was 300 grams.
The officer was immediately arrested in connection with the finds. Investigations are ongoing.
WPC charged for assaulting minor
And in a subsequent report, a woman policer officer was charged following investigations into a report of Assault by Beating involving a minor, which allegedly occurred within the Port of Spain District.
According to reports, at approximately 2. 30 pm on May 7, an 11-year-old primary school pupil from the Port of Spain District was allegedly assaulted by a Woman Police Constable, who is the mother of another pupil attending the same school.
Preliminary information indicates that the incident occurred in the school’s courtyard, following an altercation between the children.
It is alleged that the officer confronted and physically assaulted the child. A class teacher intervened, bringing the incident to an end. The victim was subsequently taken for medical attention, and a report was made to the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB).
An investigation was immediately launched, under the direction of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Intelligence and Investigations) Natasha George, Assistant Commissioner of Police Richard Smith, and supervised by Senior Superintendent Rodhill Kirk, Superintendent Jankee, and Woman Assistant Superintendent Bacchus, together with Police Constable Mohammed and other members of the PSB, the TTPS stated in a release on Wednesday.
Following consultation with Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Sabrina Dougdeen-Jaglal, advice was given for the officer to be charged by way of summons for the offence of Assault by Beating.
The accused appeared before Magistrate Gomez at the Port of Spain 3rd Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday. The matter was adjourned to November 21.
The TTPS also reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the highest standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability among all its members.
