Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Peter Reyes is set to be charged with three criminal charges related to his alleged conduct aboard a Caribbean Airlines flight from Tobago last month.
The T&T Guardian understands that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Roger Gaspard, SC, advised investigating police to lay the charges under the Civil Aviation Act, after a meeting with lead investigator DCP Glenn Hackett at his offices at Richmond Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday.
Hours later, Hackett reportedly met with his team of investigators from the Professional Standards Bureau to discuss how to proceed with the investigation.
A source close to the investigation said the team was considering charging Reyes via summons in lieu of issuing a traditional warrant for his arrest.
Under this process, the information related to the charges will be laid in the Arima Magistrates Court, with Reyes, who is currently on sick leave, being notified of a pre-fixed date of hearing of the case.
On that day, Reyes will have to appear in court to answer the charge and depending on his plea, will then be issued bail until a trial.
Several calls to Hackett’s cellphone yesterday went unanswered and he did not return voice messages.
The charges, which fall under Section 60 (1) of the legislation, are for threatening the safety of the aircraft and passengers on board; using abusive and insulting language towards a crew member and for intentionally interfering with crew members in the execution of their duties. All three carry a maximum fine of $25,000 and up to a year imprisonment.
Incident on flight
According to reports, around 5 pm on December 18, Reyes, who had only just been assigned as ACP for Tobago at the time, boarded the Caribbean Airlines Limited (CAL) flight at the Piarco International Airport.
While the plane was taxiing on the runway, Reyes reportedly got into an argument with flight attendants over their request that he switch off his cellphone.
The pilot returned the plane to the terminal and Reyes was escorted off the plane to speak to security personnel of the Airports Authority of T&T (AATT). He was then allowed to leave and completed his journey to Tobago on a flight the following day.
After they completed their shift that night, CAL crew members reported the incident to the Piarco Police Station. The flight crew also pointed Reyes out in an identification parade earlier this month.
In an interview which followed, Reyes claimed that he had difficulties switching off the cellphone which was issued to him by the T&T Police Service as part of his promotion.
Suspension looms
According to an AATT report on the incident, which has been made public, Reyes reportedly told security officials at the airport that he felt the airline staff were victimising him because of his ethnicity.
AATT security officials conducted their own investigation into the incident but they determined that no charges could be brought against the senior cop.
The incident and corresponding media reports caused a massive public outcry and was condemned by the executive of the Police Social and Welfare Association and even by acting Police Commissioner Stephen Williams.
In an almost immediate response, Williams transfered Reyes from the Tobago Division to T&T Police Service (TTPS) community relations department. Once charged, Williams will have the option of suspending Reyes and deducting his pay during the period of suspension.
Williams did not answer his cellphone when contacted yesterday evening.