CESTOS, River Cess – In a case that highlights abuse of power by law enforcement authority that River Cess residents often complain about, four officers are being accused of armed robbery, among other crimes.

The county inspector for River Cess, Trokon Browne, said the four officers from multiple agencies, led an armed robbery on October 1 against residents of at least three households in James and Sayah Towns, located in Central River Cess District. In one case, Browne said a victim was so badly assaulted during the robbery that he had to be taken to the hospital.

A total of US$530 and L$13,000 (US$131.31), along with a hunting gun and a knife, were discovered to have been seized by the criminals during their raid.

Browne said the team of criminals was led by the chief of traffic, George Miller, and included two Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization officers and another individual who claimed to be associated with the Drug Enforcement Agency.

It is not yet clear whether the officers were performing their official duty during the robbery and but Eric Kollins, who claimed to be a DEA officer, admitted to the allegations against him.

However, Kollins told the deputy police commander for operations, Bill Payan, that he was executing a search order from the Cestos City Magisterial Court.

“I did not go in there on my own,” Kollins said when interrogated. “I had a search warrant for those houses I went to.”

Kollins claimed he had received a ‘tip off’ that the residents of those homes were dealing in illegal substances. “That’s how I requested the court for the warrant,” he said.

Payan noted that contrary to Kollins’ claims, he was not a DEA officer.

It was not apparent whether Kollins would be charged for impersonation of a law enforcement officer, but Payan called on the victims to file written complaints about further investigation.

A former representative of the district, Victor Wilson, said this was not the first time that officers of the Yarkpah Town Police Depot, where some of the officers are stationed, have been accused of harassing citizens. He said the depot’s Commander Ojuku Weeks and his officers recently beat a man after he hunted and killed a deer.

“We are appealing to the government or the county commander that they are transferred out of River Cess,” Wilson said.

For his part, Weeks defended his actions as necessary because the hunter refused to tell the police what instrument he used to kill the deer. A 2006 executive order made it illegal for civilians to own firearms other than a single barrel gun for hunters, which must be registered with the Ministry of Justice.

Ojuku Weeks and a Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization officer subdue a man after he was questioned on how he killed a deer. Photo by Stanley Wleh/Echo Radio.

Browne, the county inspector who was serving as acting superintendent in the absence of the superintendent and the assistant superintendent for development, directed all aggrieved citizens to file formal complaints against the officers to the office of the county superintendent, Matthew Z. Daniels.

He said upon the arrival of the superintendent in the county, an investigation would be launched and further decisions would be taken based on the outcome of the investigation.

There is a perception among River Cess residents that law enforcement authorities frequently abuse their power. Even when those cases are reported, actions are not taken quickly enough.

In March 2015, a man was beaten on the orders of police at the Yarpah Town Police Depot for allegedly refusing to present registration documents for his motorcycle. An investigation launched by Payan was halted when the officer involved left the county to join the Police Support Unit.

Featured photo by Eric Opa Duoe