Paraplegic Robby "Sharky" Ramcharitar denies cursing, spitting or disrespecting anyone last Saturday when two Special Reserve Police officers (SRP) allegedly slapped him and shoved his wheelchair against oncoming traffic on High Street, San Fernando.Still embarrassed by the incident, which had gone viral through a video posted on social networking site Facebook, the homeless man is now considering legal action against the officers.
Ramcharitar, 46, met with investigators from the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) and the Professional Standards Bureau (PSB) yesterday at the San Fernando General Hospital.He has been a patient there since June due to spinal ailment caused by an injury he suffered in his teenage years when he fell off a coconut tree in Mayaro.
Ramcharitar was taken out of his ward for up to three hours to discuss the video which shows him being allegedly abused by two officers attached to the Rapid Response Unit at the Mon Repos Police Station.The video showed a uniformed female officer scolding him and shoving his wheelchair. It was followed by a male officer in plainclothes, who slapped him twice and taunted him to make a complaint to Crime Watch host Ian Alleyne. The male officer identified himself as PC Rajcoomar.
In a brief interview at the hospital's car park, Ramcharitar said: "I never disrespected her. I never cursed her and with that, the next officer, who is on the (news)papers here, he pushed me away and it had a very big scene."I don't like what happened. I got slapped on the left side of my face, all on my glasses."
Asked how he felt, he said: "How you expect a man to feel? I must feel hurt and embarrassed. I was in the middle of High Street looking to do a little shopping and get something to eat when these officers came."He declined to speak about his interview with the PCA, saying it was confidential.Ramcharitar said he had made no thought on whether the officers should be dismissed but vowed that the police officer who slapped him would have to pay.
"I ain't make up my mind fully but the policeman who slapped me has to pay. He disrespected me and he made a big scene over it. My sister just called me from Canada and asked me what I doing on Facebook. This is making international news and something has to be done about it."
Hard Life
Ramcharitar has been homeless for the past few years and he was hoping to get a home to stay. He worked several jobs before but his life went downhill after a car rolled over his foot in Penal two year ago.It was compounded by his spinal disease, which has left him moving around with a urine bag. Without a job, he said, he had to beg for money.
Vendors around KFC's Gasparillo outlet carpark, where Ramcharitar used to sleep, said he was a calm and quiet person who never interfered with anyone. He also often stayed along High Street and Mucurapo Street which is crowded with other homeless people.
Family: Police shouldhave done better
Ramcharitar's relatives said whenever he drank alcohol, he would be verbally abusive. Witnesses to Saturday's beating said he appeared to be drunk and was being disrespectful to passersby.His aunt, Gaulin Manickcha, of Gasparillo, said he drank too much and never listened to advice.
His only surviving brother, Dhaniram Tikasingh, said that although Ramcharitar could be a handful, the police were wrong to strike him. Speaking at his Ben Lomand home,Williamsville, Tikasingh said:
"I saw the video yesterday on the news and what I am saying is that the policeman should not have abused him so."He was a man on a wheelchair begging on the street. Yes, my brother is a man who curse plenty. He probably drank and started to get on bad but they should not have done him that."He said he hoped the officers did not lose their jobs but are disciplined severely so that they did not repeat the offence.
He said both officers probably would need to provide for their families and to be unemployed at this time would be bad.
Public condemnation
Heavy condemnation against the officers continued yesterday which included T&T Guardian readers sending e-mails, calling for a speedy dismissal of the officers."No inquiry. Fire them both," one reader said.Congress of the People political leader Prakash Ramadhar said police have been striving to improve relations with the public and the incident countered to those efforts.
He said investigations by the Police Professional Standard Bureau (PSB) and the Police Complaints Authority (PCA) should be completed urgently and appropriate action taken in the shortest time possible.He also called on witnesses to assist in the investigations and not allow the incident to negatively affect the relations between police and the public.
"There is no circumstance in which this kind of behaviour by police officers against a civilian, particularly a disabled person, can be justified. This behaviour must be roundly condemned," Ramadhar saidNational Security Gary Griffith said while he did not want to influence the outcome of the investigation with his opinion, he had been in touch with the relevant authorities that governed police officers.
A release said the minister remained resolute that lawbreakers must face the full weight of the law.Family members of PC Rajcoomar have declined to speak about the incident, opting to let the investigation decide the outcome. Fellow officers also refused to speak but admitted that it had shown police in a bad light.
Investigations almost complete
Probes by the PSB and PCA are almost complete as investigators took statements from Ramcharitar and eyewitnesses yesterday.However, the accused officers will remain on the job until a report is submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution where a decision will be made whether charge will be laid or continue with inquiries.
Although both bodies are investigating the alleged police beating as a criminal offence, director of the PCA David West said they would ensure that the PSB investigation was thorough and fair.
West said: "We can investigate whether or not a criminal offence has taken place, police corruption or serious misconduct. Our investigation is broader than the Professional Standards Bureau but were doing almost the same thing. We can make recommendations to the DPP if we think criminal offences have taken place."If it is that disciplinary action is recommended, then we inform the Commissioner of Police.
"We monitor and audit the police (PSB) investigation so if they take a statement from a person and it does not go far enough, we can interview that person and ask other questions."We will ensure that the police do their job properly and conduct a proper investigation."A PSB investigator said it was a major criminal investigation as the officers were each facing a charge of misbehaviour in public office which could result in jail time if found guilty.
"Because of the aggravated nature of the offence, there will be special considerations in laying charges. This happens especially when an offence is committed against little children, old people or disabled people but everything will be weighed accordingly," he added.