Beetham men released

Two suspected gangsters, who were arrested in the Beetham yesterday morning, have since been released by police.

The two men were at the epicentre of the pandemonium at Beetham Gardens on Thursday, when angry residents sought to shut down the Beetham Highway, the Priority Bus Route (PBR) and the Eastern Main Road.

Police sources yesterday told Newsday, the two men were held for questioning in relation to reports of violent crimes in and around Port of Spain. The men were questioned by high-ranking police and subsequently released.

However, when police arrested the two men, Beetham residents became outraged and took to the streets to vent their anger. Residents threw garbage and debris on the Beetham Highway and the PBR, causing a massive traffic pile-up. Reports were also made of people being robbed while stuck in the gridlock, and shots being fired at police seeking to restore order and assist with clearing debris.

Public Information Officer Michael Jackman said yesterday police were well within their rights to detain the two men for questioning.

“The Trinidad and Tobago Police Service is guided by the law – State Law and Common Law – it is the standard procedure of the police to detain people for questioning, should the need arise, in relation to any investigation.”

During a press briefing, which included Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, Chief of Defence Staff Hayden Pritchard and Minister of National Security Edmund Dillon, Acting Commissioner of Police Stephen Williams admitted there was a lapse on the part of the leaders of the team of police who conducted the exercise which led to the two arrests. The Acting Commissioner said the officers should not have left the area with the two men without leaving the necessary support to maintain order in the event of an uproar.

Williams also said CCTV footage of the riot action that took place on the Beetham on Thursday was captured and police are now conducting investigations to find and prosecute those involved.