Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne shocked T&T citizens this week after receiving and airing an amateur video which allegedly highlighted disturbing behaviour by a member of the T&T Police Service.
The video, which captured an alleged incident involving two Special Reserve Police officers and wheelchair-bound paraplegic Robby Ramcharitar on High Street, San Fernando, subsequently went viral on Alleyne’s Facebook page and the Internet, causing public furore and leading to the suspension of the two SRPs pending an investigation.
The video, which was caught on camera by an unknown individual and uploaded to social media Web sites, allegedly shows a police officer pushing Ramcharitar down the street then a man slapping him after a confrontation. However, the man has since denied slapping Ramcharitar and also claimed he had no knowledge that a police officer had interacted with the man prior to his own interaction with him. He suggested that the video was deliberately manipulated.
Alleyne has called for swift justice in the case and said he hoped there would be no cover up. In another case, Alleyne visited relatives of Darlene Arjoon, who was killed in a hit-and-run accident on December 27. Unfortunately, Darleen, 48, was killed as she and her family were celebrating her birthday. The incident occurred on a trip to Mayaro, where a man allegedly hit a vehicle of one of Arjoon’s relatives during their journey. The family initially attempted to stop the driver but he sped off.
They continued on their journey to Mayaro and encountered traffic, where they again spotted the man’s vehicle. It was then that they approached the man, asked him how he could drive off after hitting a car, and demanded that he accompany them to the police station. At that point, the driver again attempted to get away and hit Arjoon, dragging her a short distance away with his vehicle. Arjoon died on the spot.
Alleyne obtained the police statements from all parties and began investigations. It was alleged by the family of the deceased that the driver was held by police and released, since there were no grounds to charge him. The devastated family pleaded with Alleyne for justice, as they believed the matter was being covered up. Alleyne is continuing the investigation on this case. The Crime Watch host also interviewed the mother of missing 12-year-old Jade Peters this week.
Alleyne visited the child’s mother at their Dow Village, Claxton Bay, home after Peters mysteriously disappeared, having left home to go to a nearby mini-mart recently. Jade is a form two student of Union Hall, Claxton Bay. Alleyne is asking the public to whatsapp him on 294-4081 if they have any information. Also, this week, Alleyne was asked to probe the disappearance of Basdeo Sinanan, 56, of Southern Main Road, Chase Village, Carapichaima. He has been missing since December 15.
Relatives are appealing to the public for any assistance and Alleyne is asking anyone who may know the whereabouts of Sinanan to contact Crime Watch. Finally, the mother of Avonelle Edwards-Best, 27, visited the set to complain about alleged medical malpractice at the Sangre Grande Hospital.
Edwards-Best reportedly went into emergency labour on September 23, 2014, where she gave birth to a stillborn child. The infant was born prematurely, brain damaged and paralysed. The mother is also still hospitalised. The family appealed to Crime Watch for assistance and Alleyne promised to investigate the matter fully.