Tonight, there is a new charge of brutality by the Gang Suppression Unit against two men, one not only ended up in the hospital, but also before the courts. Jermaine Ottley has a case pending for drug trafficking in the lower court, but before Ottley could make it to court today, he claims he was roughed up and beaten by five police officers of the GSU. Ottley, along with twenty-six year old Brandon Tillett, a reputed associate of the George Street Gang, were at his house on Allenby Street when the GSU reportedly came knocking at his door. Tillett was transported to the K.H.M.H. and then under police escort he was taken to the police station where he was slapped with three criminal charges against the officers. Duane Moody followed the story.
Duane Moody, Reporting
It happened just after nine this morning. At least five GSU officers ran into this residence on Allenby Street in Belize City. And allegedly without warning, thirty-five year old Jermaine Ottley and Brandon Tillett were beaten by the officers. Ottley says that this is the second time that he has had an encounter with the officers…the first was several months ago.
Voice of: Jermaine Ottley, Alleges Brutality by GSU
“The GSU vehicle come, pull up; dehn knock on the door and say open the door. I opened the door with no hesitation. They come in and just start to brutalize me. Dehn put me fi kneel down and one of them continue beat Brandon Tillett. Three ah them just crowd him and beat he up ina the corner and two of them end up the beat me ina the corner di got we kneel down. Just take my fan and broke it up pan me; beat me up with my own fan. Whap me up ina my back, ina mi head and pull out ih service weapon, put it to my head and tell me ih wah kill me.
Dehn neva ask no question; whether dehn di do wah search or got no warrant or anything. Dehn just come in and start to beat pan we right so. If dehn di conduct wah search or so, we noh have no problem with that, but dehn just start brutalize we and when dehn done beat BT and ih di gush ina blood, dehn just decide to gone and left me right dehn.”
Ottley injuries have been classified as harm by a doctor. But in the aftermath of a bad beating, Tillett needed medical attention and was taken from the house to the K.H.M.H. by the officers. Placed under police guard as he received treatment, Tillett was whisked off to the police station where he has since been charged for three counts including the assault of a police officer.
Brandon Tillett
Voice of: Miss Laverne, Guardian
“When I get in there, I see ih buss up. I couldn’t even take it; I walked out. But the way how ih buss up and di bleed, I noh even ask ahn weh happen to yo. When I turn back to my daughter, I tell my daughter dehn chance ahn. So the GSU ask me so you want to go with ahn too then? You wah goh with ahn too then? I tell dehn well me noh got nothing with unu you know.”
Duane Moody
“For no reason dehn beat him?”
Voice of: Miss Laverne
“No reason and then ih mi gwen dah x-ray and the police them tell we that we can’t goh dah x-ray because dah dehn take it over now. And so I ask the police fi please give me ih phone cause ih mi di go through ih phone. And the police say that ih noh wah give me no phone because he want see weh di criminals dehn di do.”
Ottley says that he is now in fear of his life.
Voice of: Jermaine Ottley
“Yes I am in fear of my life with the GSU police. I can’t trust them, dehn dah like police. Dehn dah like murderers. Dehn got some vendetta against this area yah or anybody ina this area. Once dehn see you, dehn this about kill yo.”
Ottley has since lodged a report with the Internal Affairs of the Police Department. Duane Moody for News Five.
Late this afternoon, Tillett was arraigned in the Belize City Magistrate’s Court where he was slapped with three criminal offenses: Assaulting a Police Officer, Resisting Arrest and Wounding of P.C. Abner Itza. In the courtroom of Magistrate Dale Cayetano, he recounted his allegation and displayed the injuries to his forehead and right elbow. Bail was granted in the sum of two thousand dollars plus one surety of the same amount and Tillett is to return to court on September eighteenth.
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