Late night police raid for $20 ticket

Stuart Kernohan, Commissioner of Police	Maria McLean, RCIPS Media Liaison Officer

Friday,  November 25, 2005

The Police Commissioner Stuart Kernohan is reportedly concerned over an incident involving armed officers who raided a house late at night because of an outstanding parking ticket.

The 11:00 pm raid was a demand-for-arrest visit from four, allegedly armed, police officers, to the home of a woman who said she “forgot to pay a parking fine.”

According to Royal Cayman Islands Police Service (RCIPS) Media Liaison Officer, Maria McLean, Police Commissioner, Stuart Kernohan, “has heard about the allegation” involving officers who were said to be armed and “banged” on a woman’s home and demanded her immediate arrest at near midnight, while her children were fast asleep – all for a $20.00 parking violation.

Ms McLean said that Mr Kernohan “was taking the matter very seriously.” She also said, the matter has been referred to the RCIPS Complaints and Discipline committee. 

“Once this has been done it is very likely the Commissioner will be called on to adjudicate on the matter in the future,” she explained.

“As such, he may not be able to comment any further on it at this time.”

Another RCIPS source revealed that records were not immediately showing the official release of weapons for any firearms operations on that night. The source alleged that this may indicate weapons could have been taken without the relevant authority.

“Knowing the Commissioner’s and the RCIPS’ stance on the use of weapons, Mr Kernohan will be taking the matter seriously,” the source stated.

Speaking with Cayman Net News the husband of the woman in question was clearly shaken – as his voice quivered while he related the incident.
“We are Caymanians and live in West Bay. At around 11 O’ clock on Sunday night, (19 November), I was watching television with my wife, and the children were asleep.

“Suddenly, there was a loud banging on the side of the house. When I looked outside I saw a police car and four officers. The group included one female and three male officers. They all had weapons and were wearing Bullet Proof vests.

“I asked what their visit was about and they asked for my wife. They were very rude and they said they had come to arrest my wife.

“When my wife was brought into the picture she said she just remembered a traffic ticket in June that she had failed to pay.”

The West Bayer explained that when he and his wife realised what the police wanted they pointed out that they had children sleeping and asked the officers if the matter could wait until the morning. 

“At that point one of the officers said roughly, “We don’t do things at your convenience.”

“We went to the police station and I paid a five hundred dollar bail bond,” he added.

The residents involved in this incident had many concerns. One was the question as to whether they could be arrested without having received a summons.

The question was posed to Ms McLean but she said she was not able to give an answer. However, a senior member of the judiciary here revealed, “a ticket for a traffic offence is in fact a summons.

“That is why it is important to read all legal documents,” said the expert.

“The ticket itself is worded in such a way that it is a summons to court to appear on a particular day. If the matter is called up in the court and the defendant is absent, a warrant for arrest is then ordered for non-appearance. Most people don’t realise this. It is important to heed and pay careful attention to all legal documents.”

However, when the manner of the arrest was outlined, this, as well as other members of the judiciary said that the time of night and other elements reported about the arrest seemed “highly unnecessary.”

Some residents commenting on the incident wonder if some officers in the RCIPS are misinterpreting the new “zero tolerance on crime” measures.

Speaking at the RCIPS Community meetings the Commissioner and other senior RCIPS officers have underscored their “crackdown” approach on all areas of crime – from small matters to large ones.

Only recently in West Bay the Commissioner said that one of the approaches to crime involves the RCIPS’ “ability to relentlessly crackdown on crime, from street offences and youths hanging out, to incidents with gangs and guns.”

Commissioner Kernohan has also said meeting the public’s needs and knowing what people expect of the RICPS; the proper approach to leadership within the RCIPS; communicative policing in relation to Community and Neighbourhood policing; recognising that victim care and post trauma contact are also important to the public as well as “catching the burglar.”

Regarding the use of weapons by officers, Mr Kernohan has said that in the twenty-six years he had worked with the Service, the police were not armed.

“I would rather have police unarmed,” he said. “I would rather have a situation where information and intelligence are what is required and not firearms.”

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