A Tobago man claims he was forced to leave his home and relatives to hideout in Trinidad. Lynwal Trim, of Bon Accord Main Street, Tobago says he fears for his life after receiving threats from a member of the T&T Police Service. On July 14, 2014, Trim said he was physically assaulted by a police sergeant at his home.
He said he had loaned a man $100 and when the man refused to pay him back the money he confiscated the man’s bicycle. “The man came for his bike in company of the police officer. The man gave me my money so I gave back the bicycle but the police officer with him called me by my nickname “Timama” and I told the officer that while on police business to call me Mister Trim,” he said.
“That was when the police sergeant cuffed me on my face causing me to fall down. I got up and fought back. The officer then took out his firearm and fired a single shot in the air. Fearful for my life now I ran into my house for cover. The officer kicked down my glass front door, shattering it to pieces and chased me,” he said.
Escaping through the backdoor, Trim said he ran to the roadside and saw another police officer passing by and made a report. Trim said he was advised to go to the Scarborough Police Station to file a report instead of going to the Crown Point Police Station. “While at the Scarborough Police Station I lodged the report and while waiting on a police vehicle to take me to the hospital when the police sergeant walked in,” Trim said.
“In front of the other officers the sergeant kicked and cuffed me and then put me in handcuffs. He then threatened to kill me and then took me for a long drive in a marked police vehicle,” Trim said. He said he remembered seeing bush all around him when the vehicle stopped and the sergeant came around and dragged him out of the vehicle and began beating him again.
Trim was eventually taken to the Tobago General Hospital in Signal Hill where he was treated for injuries. He reported the incident to the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and received a letter dated February 4 stating that an investigation had found evidence which supports his claims against the police officer.
The letter, which was signed by the PCA’s Director, David West further stated that Trim’s matter has been forwarded to the Acting Commissioner of Police with a recommendation that disciplinary action be taken against the police officer. On March 17, Trim got a second letter from the PCA, which stated that it was conducting further investigations into his report and retracted it’s previous correspondence which stated that the matter had been referred to the Commissioner of Police.
He made a plea to West to protect him and ensure that the matter was quickly resolved and the officer dealt with accordingly before it is too late for him.