Barrackpore man, 63, claims wrongful arrest

A 63-year-old Barrackpore man said police damaged part of his front door on December 10 before wrongfully detaining him in a police station cell.

Robert Forte said police took him to the Barrackpore police station, claiming they had a warrant for his arrest.

After about two hours in the locked cell, a policeman read out the warrant only to realise that the person’s name on the document for a traffic offence was not Forte’s.

“When the officer read it out, I told him the surname he called was not mine. He said, ‘Give me your driver’s permit.’ I was in the cell. I did not have it with me,” Forte said on Tuesday at his home at Mussarapp Trace.

“I do not have any money to buy a door with a lock right away. I am fearful of the police. I feel they may want to target me. This experience was very traumatic for me. I have never been in trouble with the law.”

The unemployed man, who lives alone in a wooden house, recalled the ordeal started at about 1.30 am on December 10. He was awakened by the police who called out to “Robert” to open the door. He answered and peeped through the window. Forte said he saw two cars and about seven officers in the yard.

Forte said he was not fully clothed and decided to put on a shirt. Before he had a chance to open the door, the officers forced their way inside, breaking the door and damaging the lock.

“They asked if I was Robert, and I say yes. They say they had a warrant for my arrest. I asked them what it was about, and they told me not to worry.”

Forte said while in the station, he again asked about the reason for the warrant. He said he asked for a phone call, which was denied. He said he then suggested they give him his cell phone to make the call, and they denied him that too.

“Police carried me back home, and I showed them my permit.

“They said I was free to go. I asked them who is responsible for the broken door. An officer said I have to fix it, and I said okay.”

Forte, a father of four and a former farmer, said he has already spoken to a lawyer.

A few years ago, his son Jamal, 24, was murdered. Jamal was chopped and his attackers poured poison in his mouth.

They dumped him in a forested area in Williamsville. He walked out, and passers-by found him. He died a few days later at hospital. No one was held for the crime, and the main suspect, Forte said, has since died.

Police declined to comment on the matter.