The two men who were the victims of an alleged vigilante assault are disputing aspects of a statement issued by the Guyana Police Force.
Vernon Beckles and Damion Gordon were last weekend beaten by residents of Canal Number 1 Polder after a man accused them of stealing the rearview mirrors on his car.
The men believe that there is an attempt to cover up the incident and are fearful that those responsible may not be penalized in keeping with the law.
Below is the full text of the police statement:
“Police are investigating the alleged assault committed on Damian Gordon and his friend Vernon Beckles which occurred about 21:00h. last Sunday at Two Brothers, Canal No. 1 Polder, WBD, by a group of allegedly irate residents, after one of them was allegedly seen removing a pair of mirror from a parked motor car.
Investigations have so far revealed that the victims were taken from Georgetown to the home of Ewart Lewis, a member of the Guyana Defence Force, who lives at Two Brothers, Canal No. 1 Polder, WBD, by an in-law of Lewis’ reputed wife.
Later, whilst at Ewart’s place, the Ewart family and the victims (Gordon and Beckles) decided to venture to Georgetown to seek further entertainment and while doing so, stopped at a shop at Two Brothers, where Ewart, his reputed wife and her in-law went into the shop leaving the two victims on the Public Road.
Ewart Lewis claimed that while at the shop in Canal, a resident (name given) ran into the shop and shouted saying that two men were stealing the mirrors from his motor car and shortly after another resident (name given) told him that the men who stole the mirrors were the men he brought in his car. Immediately, several persons in the vicinity swarmed the two men and began questioning them and during this period (Gordon) fled and jumped into the canal and both of them denied stealing the mirrors.
The rearview mirrors belonging to the vehicle where the two victims were seen standing, were later found by Ewart Lewis, under another vehicle which was parked in close proximity of the vehicle of which they were stolen from.
Whilst in the trench, the alleged irate residents threw bricks and other objects at Gordon, while the other was detained by residents.
A Rural Constable from the area took initial action and pleaded with Gordon to come out but he refused; by this time the police patrol arrived and Gordon came out of the canal.
They were taken into custody and subsequently escorted to the West Demerara Regional Hospital where they were treated and sent away.
The Divisional Commander Assistant Commissioner Leslie James and a team of Officers have since visited the location and obtained statements.
The Guyana Police Force wishes to caution media houses which rush to publicize episodes given to them but which later turned out to be exceedingly erroneous. The Force also wishes note that connotations of vigilantism were published in certain sections of the media but which are unsubstantiated based on statements obtained from members of the public, some of whom were involved in this incident on the day in question.
It is not the first time that persons who are suspected of having committed an offence invoke the wrath of members of the public and while we frown and warn against these behaviors as being unacceptable, the reality is that one cannot necessarily immediately determine what a spontaneous action will be.”