by Curlan Campbell
- Officers attached to South St George Police Station responded to a hit and run accident
- On arrival quickly realised that more was involved
- Officers took measurements of accident and then took witnesses statements of alleged assault and harm
Acting Police Commissioner, Edvin Martin, said officers dispatched to investigate the incident at Fort Jeudy, St George last Thursday, responded appropriately, after the completion of their preliminary investigation.
Martin took this stance during a press briefing in response to the public outcry over an altercation that resulted in Evan Smith, a Guyanese/Grenadian national, sustaining physical injuries allegedly at the hands of 2 individuals later identified as Donal Kavanagh and Sarah Hutton. Both Kavanagh and Hutton who were said to be of Irish descent, were formally charged by the police for causing harm and subsequently released on $10,000 bail with one surety. Reportedly, after Smith ran over a dog belonging to the accused, the incident quickly escalated into an altercation. Despite charges being laid against the 2 individuals in question, the initial action by police responding to the incident was brought under scrutiny as the public questioned the competence of the RGPF to investigate matters involving harm offences in a timely manner. The incident also raised concerns by the public over the inherent bias by law enforcement in the way they handled the investigation, after it was reported by the victim that the police told them that the matter should be pursued privately in order to seek legal recourse.
Before providing crucial new information regarding the events of Thursday, 25 June 2020, ACP Martin, stated that his responses will only be centred around the facts of the case and the appropriateness of the police responding to the incident. He could not disclose additional information in order to avoid pre-trail prejudices that can negatively impact the case now before the magistrate court. He explained that officers attached to South St George Police Station responded to what was believed to be a traffic-related matter involving a hit and run accident, but on arrival quickly realised that more was involved. Upon arrival the officers proceeded to carry out measurements of the accident and thereafter started taking statements from witnesses of the alleged assault and harm.
Martin said based on established protocols in handling cases of this nature, it is therefore highly unlikely that an officer of the RGPF would issue a medical form to a victim of harm — which he said is standard procedure before commencing an official investigation — and in the same breath would indicate to the said victim that they should seek legal recourse privately. “For over 100 years the police force has been responding to harm offences and when we respond we issue a medical form, and the matter is investigated, but …to tell you here is a medical form, go and take private action — it does not sound possible.”
Martin stated that upon being briefed on the matter, he was made aware that the victim may have expressed the intention to pursue civil action in the matter, and in response, the police may have informed the victim that they are within their rights to do so. However, Martin said although it remains unclear whether or not the officer’s statement was misconstrued by Smith, the fact remains that once a medical form is issued, it signifies that the police has commenced their investigation. “I don’t know if the police probably saying that is your right may be misconstrued as private action, but the issuance of the (medical) form is testimony that the police is investigating this as a criminal offence.”
An individual who wished to remain anonymous, told NOW Grenada that the police briefing left many unanswered questions since it is unclear as to whether the accused individuals were detained by police for questioning on suspicion, or were they allowed to go home only to be charged later for causing harm after the medical report was received by police. If that is the case, the individual said the police who responded to the scene showed a clear bias in favour of the foreign nationals, which is sometimes not offered to the average Grenadian.
Meanwhile, the police are also investigating reports that there were other key individuals of interest who may have been involved in the altercation.
Martin said once there is sufficient evidence to show that there were other individuals involved, then additional persons will be charged. “Initial statement from a witness of the incident first cited 2 [people] as being responsible for inflicting injuries. Prior to my arrival for this press brief now I have been told that that individual has since returned to the police with [the] added information of other [people]. We will review this, we will examine this, take the information that is taken and where there is evidence to substantiate the charging of additional [people] those actions will be taken.”
Superintendent Vannie Curwen, responded to questions regarding possible charges that can be laid against the accused with respect to Section 12 of the Dogs Registration and Control Act.
“We are reviewing the legislation as it relates to animals and them being leashed, and at some point, additional charges regarding that will be considered.” He said, “Traffic-related issues are still under investigation and a clear determination has not yet been made.”
The offence of harm carries a maximum penalty of $3,000 or one-year imprisonment or both. The accused individuals are expected to make their first court appearance on 28 July 2020.
Many ignorant and uneducated Grenadians have absolutely no regard or respect for dogs – stray or pet. They often run them over deliberately. They will beat a stray dog that wonders onto their property to death. They abuse their own pets, breeding them into the ground for money and discarding them like nothing. They chain them outside and neglect them. They are too lazy to bring them water and denie them food. These dogs suffer and die terrible deaths in Grenada. This is why this Smith man behaved like this because he really is too backward to know better.
It is clear that Grenada needs an opposition Party and Media outlet that is not afraid to challenge, or to speak out on unfair issues.
The land is our biggest asset and should NEVER be sold to foreign nationals. (Grenada is too small for that) lease with a buy back clause, that when the buyer wants to sell, it must be sold back to the Government at the same cost/or a minimal interest payment.
There is an advert for the sale of ‘Sandy Island’ – supposed new investment, in the Blue Growth Master Plan for Grenada (please google and read it if you have not done so already) All will involve the sale or appropriation of prime real estate to foreign nationals. Having money is not a crime, but with all the loans/grants being taken by the government – the future of the country is decades of DEBT.
Black Lives Matter at home and abroad, and as people including those in the diaspora – we must protect for the future generations and learn from our past.
This is talking, what are we going to/ or can we do about this land grab?????
Grenada sweet Grenada don’t get your country get taken over by profiteers who have no regard for you.
Arm yourselves with knowledge of your island, and stand up to the injustices of your people and your precious land, stop these greedy outsiders walking over you. Enough is enough. Get up stand up for your rights
It is very sad to see how foreigners are comfortably coming to Grenada and because of the opportunity to buy your citizenship for the right price can abuse the Indigenous Grenadians, take the best land, again for the right price and are boldly controling the politics and leadership in Grenada, again for the right price.
We need to encourage Grenadian home and abroad to have first preference to buy and invest in our Island, not the chinese ( believe me my friends, chinese does NOT have any good intention for us a people), they haave never liked black people and never will, they think we are stupid and they can take everything from us, again for the right price, they will never allow us to go to their country and owe anything. Leadership of Grenada I beg you to PLEASEEEE do not sell out Grenada to like that, think of the future generations, we as black people are not accept anywhere in the world, let us not give away what is truly ours because one day home may not be home no more, PLEASEEEEE
Wealthy people buy their citizenship and bring life to Grenada.
But the worst Grenadians travel to the UK and America and lie and cheat and deceive their way to citizenship or go illegal..
In my country there are young men from Grenada selling crack in my country and fooling vunerable women into having children for them. They are abusive, drug dealing scum and should be deported.
Mr ACOP I believe that charges should also be laid on the owners of the dog that was let loose that lead to the criminal altercation.
What happened from this incident only tells me that if it was a family that was walking the public road and this dog had attacked them are a family member and forced was use to defend and protect them from the dog ,then you’re telling me that the owners would have done the same and worse to that family all because of the negligence of the owners? Although it didn’t happened on view of the police but just being there and after accessing and taking all of the circumstances into consideration all members of that family should have been detained immediately pending the out come of the investigation.
Shame! Shame! WHO IS MORE IMPORTANT HERE? The dog? Police going to measure with a tape for a dog accident? Waw! That’s a very special dog with a set of very special people. I love pets, but is unreal and stupid. When you call them to deal with a crime it takes them a loooonggg…time to arrive like a snail on the wall. But for a fort Judy case a dog get hit they are quick as a kangaroo. Do they really care about Mr Smith? Remember Grenada still in a slavery system to its own people by Leader of this country who sold so many land to foreigners and that terrible program citizen by investment. Citizen by investment cost I think over $150,000 USD for a single person plus cost whatever that is and $200,00 USD for a family up to four persons. It have to donated and they get a Grenadian passport. Can a Grenadian buy a condo too? For example getting the finance and investing in those buildings you see listed instead of encouraging these investors. I never heard the government talking to its people encouraging them to invest in the tourist industry. I guess Grenadians have to remain in the same struggle from it’s own government for years. Those who has a decent job and does in government positions are great and they are comfortable but as black people we are not dumb, neither blind with the system that has created to keep us down and there is bias also which is sad. The leader and the party members all of them are stuck in they old dumb ways and is full of greed. They more they get is they more they want.
Just when we thought we had seen and heard all the absurdities possible from the people who claim they represent Native or Indigenous Grenadians; we then get exposed to more and more foolishness beyond comprehension.
First of all, the COVID crisis has clearly exposed the fact that we are totally unprepared, helpless, poor, and exposed to all sorts unjust maladies and misfortune partly because of unintelligent decisions the people who said they represent us have made and continue to make.
If we sit down and really examine our condition with true honesty, many of us, Indigenous Grenadians, will feel hopeless beyond imagination.
To further add to our hopelessness, we are now driven to accept scrapes from so-called Chinese people, who are here to take whatever little resources of value we have left. Since when Chinese people became our friends?
We better stop dreaming right away to prevent this dream from turning into a horror story. We never had and currently don’t have any friends. The world is an unfriendly place, and so, logic dictates that it is impossible for us to have any friends. We need to pound this into our brains from now until the end of time.
This cheap psychology the people who say they represent us, who are in league with the Chinese, is only intended to fool Indigenous Grenadians who are asleep. It is time we take back La Sagesse before they get too comfortable. Remember that we have not had access to the plot of land they occupy in La Sagesse for decades; it went straight from the Taiwanese to the Chinese. We have plans and uses for this prime piece of land.
It very difficult to understand why the people who represent us are always in search of newest and greatest abuser for us. The only reason I can think of for this kind of inappropriate behaviour is that our so-called representatives may be in the business of self-hate and are working toward having us develop as much self-hate as possible.
The sad part is now that we have been reduced to beggars, what next can we expect for our generations to come? We got tricked into giving up little we had under the disguise of tourism or the so-called “blue economy”. Now we are in search of other people to come trick us even more. When are these educated people in government going to start solving our problems instead of kicking us around like a ball to the latest, in-fashion abuser?
Wake up, Indigenous Grenadians!
Well said John! This is a SHAME. It makes me sad to see what is going on. Grenada had no friends before. Now they are with the Chinese who is a group of people that don’t like blacks, they stick to they own community going all the over the Caribbean having embassies and taking over the lands. The land belong to our native Grenadians. Yes it is time for the people of Grenada to take back the land of La Sagesse and other lands. So many land sold by our beaches and block certain original entrances or make the smaller etc.. our own government is destroying the people of Grenada and we let them go on and on and it’s too much. The people has to come together to put a stop to this. Grenada is loosing it…
South St. George Police is not the Grand Anse Station? thought the incident happened in St. David’s under St. Paul’s police station.
Asking a friend, I am a bit slow so please indulge. So the police held a whole press conference to discuss a dead dog? What about the Assault on Mr Smith? Were charges laid for the dog or Mr assault on Mr Smith? In fact it appears that a gang of thugs accosted Mr Smith.
Quite frankly I am not surprise or concern about the police’s advise in regards to the” civil case”.
Again asking a friend, when are we going to hear from the immigration department in regards to their deportation orders?
I am also paying close attention to these lawyers response. NO HANKY PANKY remember who your client is!! #DohSELLOUT!
HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT!11111
OR IS IT BECAUSE ITS FORT JEUDY, THE COMPLAINANT HAVING A FOREIGN ACCENT!!!!
C O P PLEASE LET,S GET REAL.
I HAVE NEVER SEEN TAPE MEASURE BEING USED FOR A DOG ACCIDENT AND SO QUICK THE POLICE ARRIVED FOR THE ACCIDENT.
THE PATH THE SMITH TOOK TO GET ATTENTION FROM THE AUTHORITIES WAS THE CORRECT ONE TO GET THE ATTENTION OF THE POLICE AND PUBLIC.
A NEIGHBOUR IS STILL WAITING FOR THE POLICE TO COME AND INVESTIGATE A ROBBERY WHERE THE PERSON TOOK STEEL AND LUMBER. THE POLICE WAS GIVEN THE NAME OF THE THIEF, WHERE HE LIVES, WHERE HE IS FROM, WHERE HE WORKS AND WHERE THE STEEL IS. THAT’S 8 MONTHS AGO. THE POLICE IS STILL INVESTIGATING
I TOLD HER SHE SHOULD HAVE GONE TO THE MEDIA
THOSE CULPRITS NEED TO BE DEPORTED.
WHERE IS UNCLE GAIRY??????
Seems the police are trying to wriggle away incompetence on their part….. Hmmmmm
SMH…This is almost laughable yes….just almost laughable indeed,but there is a serious situation at hand let’s hope it remains above and not under the carpet. A shame a total shame indeed. What else were we expecting the poilce to say.hummmm