GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – The Guyana police say they have placed “under close arrest” one of their colleagues after law enforcement authorities had “taken note of a video circulating on social media” involving a police officer.
In a brief statement, the Guyana Police Force (GPF) said that the Commissioner of Police, Clifton Hicken, “has immediately ordered a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident”.
The statement said in addition, the officer “featured in the video has since been placed under close arrest and the Office of Professional Responsibility has been instructed to commence a detailed investigation immediately.
“The GPF wishes to assure the public that this matter is being treated with the utmost seriousness. The contents of the video form part of the ongoing investigation, which will determine the full extent of both disciplinary and criminal actions to be taken,” the statement said without providing any further details on the matter.
But media reports said that the officer was armed “with an assault rifle on a roadway” and that the police statement was issued after Team Mohamed, which is linked to the main opposition We Invest in Nationhood (WIN) party, posted a video of a civilian-dressed man in Port Kaituma threatening to shoot someone on the roadway.
“Three shots were fired, one while a peacemaker attempted to take away the weapon from him, and two others while the man was walking with the weapon. Two women were also seen in the video trying to calm the man,” the media reports.
In its statement, the GPF said that it “remains committed to maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and accountability and further information will be provided at the appropriate stage as the investigation progresses”.
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