Tasing of homeless man by police caught on camera
Police under fire again
While most have praised the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) for ensuring members of the public comply with the mandated round-the-clock lockdown, some have hurled criticisms at the RVIPF for seemingly using unnecessary force in some situations.
According to reports on the latest incident, which occurred around 5:00pm in Road Town, Tortola, on Saturday, April 11, 2020, police had received a report that known destitute Matthew W. Hart was seen in public with a case of beers which was suspected to have been stolen.
The young police officer on patrol in the area at the time responded and noticed Hart in the vicinity of Virgin Queen with the said case of beers.
An attempt was allegedly made to stop the man; however, the suspect immediately dropped the beers and started running.
Man tased while on ground
According to information from well-placed sources in the RVIPF, the police officer chased Mr Hart and shot him with a taser in the process but the suspect kept on running.
While in the area of Scatliffe Alley aka ‘The Ghetto’, Mr Hart allegedly fell to the ground.
In the video, the homeless man, while almost prostrate, is heard telling the officer he had a surgery in his groin area which prevents him from lying fully on his tummy.
The officer repeatedly told Mr Hart not to move.
And, according to the video clip, even as the man remained on the ground, although not motionless, he was tased a second time.
“Do not move, you funny, you funny,” the police was heard shouting after tasing Mr Hart.
Homeless man
Infuriated by the incident, several persons called our newsroom to vent. “What about the use of video evidence in these times? Everybody knows Matthew is a homeless guy. The place on lockdown with no sure way of him getting food and so on, it’s obvious he would be in survival mode,” one man stated as he blasted the actions of the police.
He added, “I am not condoning him stealing but it is what they will do, the system has failed them. Just like the system is obligated to feed to fat them murderers in Balo [Her Majesty,s Prison] they are obligated to the destitute among us. You know you cannot get them to stay in a home because we do not have that type of home built here in the BVI.”
He suggested: “Red Cross got loads and loads of foodstuff. Get an established place that they can go and get three square meals a day and some Schaefer beers because, like it or not, that is what will keep them from molesting peoples’ homes, coming begging.”
The man, who chose to remain anonymous, was also of the opinion that the RVIPF needs to properly train officers to think quickly in certain situations.
“You know he going to run, pull out your cell phone, videotape him. If you get a report of a break and enter with missing beers you have evidence. Chase Matthew down like in a hunting movie and tase him twice, once while he obviously had no way of escaping with you right up on him, you more for hold and aiming your gun like you using him as a training target,” the upset man stated.
‘I have not seen the video’- CoP Matthews
Police Commissioner, Mr Michael B. Matthews declined to comment on the incident, saying he had not viewed the video clip.
“I have not seen the video and would make no comment as most if not all social media videos only show half the story.”
Mr Matthews said; however, police did arrest an alleged curfew breaker suspected of committing theft.
“I can confirm a person is in custody being investigated for suspected theft and breach of curfew,” Mr Matthews told our newsroom this morning, April 12, 2020.
Young man tased in Long Look
The incident comes on the heels of a young man from Long Look, Tortola, accusing officers of the RVIPF of using a stun gun on him “for no reason” on Wednesday, April 8, 2020.
Yakeem Frett, 23, has since been charged with Breach of Curfew and Escape of Lawful Custody.
In a brief video clip sent to our newsroom, a male police officer is seen firing his taser gun at Frett, who was standing close to the door of a police vehicle.
There was also a female police officer handling Frett, who seemed to be handcuffed but did not appear to be resisting arrest in the 6-second video clip.
A WhatsApp video then began circulating with Frett showing burn marks in his rib area and legs, allegedly from being tased.
‘My officers will continue to enforce the law’
Mr Matthews had also declined to comment specifically on the matter.
“Generally speaking the communities have been supportive and a vast majority compliant but we are still finding those few individuals who think the law and the curfew does not apply to them.
“It’s a sad fact that some individuals (a clear minority) are being reckless and putting us all at risk. My officers will continue to enforce the law as laid down under the Curfew Act and I ask everyone to help and work with us by staying at home and not be tempted after a few days to venture out whilst the curfew still remains,” Mr Matthews had told Virgin Islands News Online.
The 24-hour lockdown in place to prevent community spread of COVID-19 expires on April 16, 2020 but is expected to be extended to April 19, 2020 to allow for a full 14-day quarantine period.
What is a Taser & how does it work?
Tasers, also called "electrical control devices," are used by law enforcement, with the intention to help subdue resistant suspects without physical contact or the use of firearms.
Tasers are designed to produce a low-level shock that temporarily immobilizes someone, making it easier to apply handcuffs. Once heralded as “nonlethal,” Tasers are now marketed as “less-lethal” — less likely to result in death than guns.
Taser guns can leave small burn marks on the skin from two prongs that deliver the jolt of electricity.
When an officer pulls the trigger, two wires with probes on the ends are released and become embedded in the person’s body. Each trigger pull results in a 5-second burst of electricity. Holding down the trigger results in a continuous flow of electricity.
The devices also can be placed flush against the skin in what is known as a "drive stun." This causes pain rather than temporary paralysis and is used to get people to follow officers' commands.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Guidelines by the Police Executive Research Forum state that "exposure longer than 15 seconds (whether continuous or cumulative) may increase the risk of serious injury or death and should be avoided."
See link to video of incident:
https://www.facebook.com/VINOLatest/videos/602171467034440/
See link to related article:
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87 Responses to “Tasing of homeless man by police caught on camera”
locking up police for brutality will happen once the current commissioner or the governor have anything to do with the justice system in the British Virgin Islands?
He was being subdued,from a distance ,as is warranted during a pandemic.
A taser or a bullet are the options.
I give unto you all herb bearing seed. Open your bible.
But anyone would know he’s homeless no excuse for this officer
He prob didn’t think he’d be on camera and the world would see the advantage what was being done .
Thiefing ,and ignoring curfew and lockdown due to a deadly pandemic warrants extreme corrective action by law enforcement. Some of us value our lives.
Ain't no police gonna taser me or put a gun in my face n get away with it
It matters not,if a person is a "vagrant"-"homeless"-"parrow", we are all human beings as classified in our constitution.
Generally,I like to blogg on the real facts and circumstances of a case,but it is freightening if the video displayed by this news site depict the facts,as implied.
Yes,the video shows an officer pointing what appeared to be a gun.
but,was it in use at the time? I don't know.I cannot tell from the video
According to the news site,the information came from inside source [police officer] telling on another officer.
wow, that's very interesting..
Seem as if the power higher up told them 0 tolerance but they so ignorant that they can only mediate a situation with aggression.
Don't forget alot of these cops were recruits from supermarkets, gas station, restaurants, bars. No bash or anything. But policing bigger than issuing a ticket and arresting.
These police have a target on Young people head. But they got that younger generation deal with (7yrs-19 yes)
@ rea: retaliation is a very serious factor in a developing society: It can be very difficult for some of us to accept oppression by police in our territory: should the commissioner of police allow these aggressive tactics by mostly foreign personnel one might have a greater matters in our country. mr matthew will simply jump on british airways leaving our beloved country with police against citizen. Most of the gun squad is from outside of the territory so shooting us is a no brainer, most of beat and patrol are non nationals so tasing us is a no brainer: any old peace of sh!t can come here and wear the police uniform: look at facts, no arm robbery is solved, no update on unsolved murders: the serious crime in our country continue to be unsolved and no one including those we have voted for ask the commissioner any questions: house of assembly is on Thursday give a listen and prove me wrong: we afraid to upset the w.... boys!!!! I did come to this country by boat or plane
When this is done to the less fortunate the government need to step in and take action. This is unjustified.
The legal team looked at the law in the Police Act,CAP 165,laws of the virgin islands, section 4
[Ojects of the force]
"(1) The objects of the force are-
(a) the maintenance of law and order;
(b) the preservation of peace
(c) the defence of the territory from internal aggression or threats thereof;
(d) the protection of life and property
(e) the prevention and detection of crime;and
(f) the enforcement of all laws that is required to enforce".
" (2) In the performance of the performance of the functions specified in subsection (1) a member of the force may be issued with and may carry and use for lawful purposes such arms and ammunition as the C.O.P or,in his absence,a DCP may authorize".
My mind is buggling,just trying to make sense of the action by the officer.
Based on his training,did he act justifiably?
Because,failing to adhere to the verbal instructions of a police officer of "show your hands,and don't move" is considered,resisting arrest,and could warranty the use of reasonable force to stop the resistance.
But in this particular case,you have a known mentally challenged person,who was on the ground,and appeared to be non-violent or aggressive.
As a legal team who believes in justice,that's what buggling my mind.
One love bvi.stay safe bvi.
Even if we are to assume that the Officer does not know Matthew is an addict the facts still show that the force was unwarranted.
However the outrage is warranted but where was this when the Dominican Republic Santo Hernandez was killed not tasered, yes killed by the Police? He was an alleged murderer on the run and the police killed him and there was an investigative report, the outcome of which was never made public. Where was the outrage then? Instead we just saw comments like he deserved it, he was despicable, murderer eg.
http://www.virginislandsnewsonline.com/en/news/update-report-on-police-killing-of-santo-y-hernandez-in
Every single person regardless of his or her alleged crime, his or her crime, his or her race, his or her nationality have rights. Yet we treated this Man with scorn for his alleged deeds and the Police were not held accountable. Today for me, tomorrow for you.
Fortunately this one is on video and on social media but will anything become of this? Doubtful. Another investigative report whose findings will probably never be found? Who to blame? We the people.
Police videoing police and sending it out to media.
Gut out during curfew.
Stealing beer (not food) during curfew.
Can't lay on his belly because of surgery to his groin.
Homeless yet can get surgery but left out for the curfew.
Groin surgery and can run from Police, but no lay on belly.
Police excessive force, but the video does not tell the full story
Homeless left to wander during curfew like they do not matter.
We all jumping to conclusions, attacking one another, on race, BVIslander, down island man, on and on.
I shake my head at it all! Sad times, and the new dawn has yet to bring the light to see what we all have left in the coming new day!
I think Matthew would agree.
The CoP has not seen the video what everybody else see? And then chatting nonsense that Matthew thinks the curfew doesn’t apply to him! Why he didn’t take Matthew to stay by him? From on the radio talking nonsense and sounding DUMB.
2) If the man dropped the beer and was running away, the officer's life was not being threatened.
3) If the man stated he couldn't lay flat because of surgery, I believe him because neither can I because of surgery.
4) If the man is guilty for stealing beer, he should be arrested. Two officers could have subdued him w/o tasing.
5) Either way, both of them are in the wrong and this must be corrected. Mental people cannot be left alone roaming the streets during a pandemic without shelter and food to eat. I blame government for not thinking of these unfortunate people before putting a curfew. All in all people, for now follow the law and stay safe.
Distancing also applies to the Police. He was subdued using a taser from an acceptable distance,protecting both Mathew and the Police. He wasn't shot and killed which was an alternative....same as if Matthew had a gun pointed at them,,in this atmosphere of presumed contagious, life is endangered .
What is the commissioner saying
I hope he and d other officer is immediately suspended without pay and investigated.
They bringing their beast attitude here not tolerated.
Mind you I commend them
When they do their jobs but this I cannot or will not tolerate.
Everyone whom
knows this homeless man knows he’s not aggressive at no time and for no reason.
I call on the Comisioner to Weed out these officers.
What happened to the other officers?
Soo many island man officers worked here and whilst they did their jobs this was never the case and they was well mannered and professional.
The sad part is the Uk police boss can get away with this
Are we still on curfew
He broke curfew to steal
Just checking
Are we still on curfew
He broke curfew to steal
Just checking