CoP: Update next week on homeless man abuse

COMMISSIONER of Police Gary Griffith said next week an update will be given on the fate of two soldiers and two police officers who forced a homeless man to drink alcohol and do exercises.

He was speaking on Thursday at the weekly police media briefing at the Police Administration building.

On March 30 a video surfaced on social media showing a homeless man, identified as Moses Phillip, being made to drink alcohol by soldiers while police officers sat and watched at the front of a police vehicle. A short while later the soldiers ordered him to do push-ups and run while the police chased him in the car.

Phillip lives on George Street, Port of Spain. He told Newsday at the time the incident took place early on the Sunday morning after the stay-at-home order came into effect. Two soldiers and two police constables suspected of being involved were questioned by authorities.

Griffith said Thursday said the matter was almost complete. He pointed out that there were two soldiers involved but "everything on the front page was that police officers were involved." But he claimed it was a soldier who communicated with Phillip, handed alcohol to him, pointed a weapon at him and made threats and demands.

"And this is not in any way for me to pass the buck and blame soldiers. But again it is so unfortunate that all you saw on the front page is the police."

He said the police were in the front of the vehicle but admitted this did not mean they were not culpable.

"You can see that they were aiding and abetting and they were a part of it."

He stressed that while theydid not directly participate in a crime, as police officers they should have prevented it.

"So I do not want to say much more. But by next week we should be able to give you a full update as it pertains to what action is being taken on all four individuals from the Defence Force and the TT Police Service. "