$50,000 bail for policeman on assault charge

POLICEMAN Sgt Curtis Applewhite has been charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm by officers of the Professional Standards Bureau. This was based on advice given by Director of Public Prosecutions Roger Gaspard, SC.

Applewhite according to a police press release on Friday, was granted $50,000 bail by Port of Spain magistrate Indar Jagroo on Thursday. The officer was arrested following an incident on Saturday August 19, 2018, where a man was in San Juan and began recording a crime scene on his video recorder.

The man said he was accosted by a policeman and shoved repeatedly in the chest. The man said the officer told him, "I do not want any cameras behind here.” The man said he later went to the Chaguanas Health Centre after feeling pain in his chest and later made a report to police.

During the course of investigations, several people were interviewed, statements recorded, CCTV footage examined and a medical report obtained.

On Thursday February 7, 2019, Sgt Applewhite was interviewed by police, told of a report under investigation and informed that he was a suspect in relation to a claim of assault.

DPP Gaspard gave certain instructions on Wednesday last and the officer was charged and appeared in court where the case was adjourned to Wednesday November 11.