Fireman accuses police of dishonesty, targeting him
A local firefighter has accused the police of unfairly targeting him and lying in their testimony during his trial in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday.
The firefighter, Allesta Brewley, was on trial for using indecent language, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct on the premises of the Road Town Police Station on June 12, 2020.
The court heard evidence from three police officers — Fiona George, Ricardo Johnson and David Nibbs. But, during the trial, Brewley maintained the officers were dishonest as the three police testimonies did not properly align with each other.
The court was told that at approximately 9 pm, two police officers were pulling out of the police station to return to their regular patrol when they noticed a vehicle belonging to Brewley parked facing the police station.
The officers said the vehicle appeared tinted and suspicious and they stopped to inquire what business the person had at the station.
One police gave evidence that when Brewley was approached and questioned about the tint of the vehicle, he responded by saying “why you f**king harassing me”. The officer said the accused was cautioned and ordered to step out of the vehicle.
However, the court was told Brewley continued using indecent language so the police advised him he would be arrested. In trying to arrest him, the officer said the accused resisted by flailing his arms so help had to be requested from the second and third officer at the station. The court was told Brewley was eventually arrested, brought into the police station and charged.
Contrasting testimonies
The accused firefighter said the officers all had different stories in their recollections of events. During their testimonies, each officer indicated that they were the arresting officer and they had placed the handcuffs on Brewley’s hands. They all described the way in which the handcuffs were placed on his hands and how he resisted them. Each officer also demonstrated to the court how the handcuffing of the defendant was done. Officers George and Johnson told the court they searched the accused fireman but Brewley maintained only George searched him and Johnson was on the opposite side of the vehicle talking another person in the said vehicle.
Brewley also said in his testimony that he used indecent language twice, the first time at George and he was cautioned. He said the second time he used it, he whispered it to Nibbs since he knew him previously and the handcuffs were hurting his wrist and shoulder. His account of this was corroborated by Nibbs. The defendant said George heard him use indecent language and that’s when he was told he was under arrest.
Person of interest?
The accused man also indicated to the court he was at the police station seeking some information as one of his family members had been arrested. He said when the police approached him, one of the officers told him a call came from management that he was possibly a person of interest in an incident. He also indicated that Officer George reached into his car, turned off the ignition and took the keys out before ordering him to exit the vehicle.
Brewley told the court that after he was arrested, there was a search warrant executed on his premises later that night. He said he was not given a valid reason for the search of his premises as he was only arrested for indecent language, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
However, the police officers maintained Brewley was approached because of the tints on his car windows and the fact the car was parked in the police station parking lot for more than five minutes without anyone emerging from the vehicle.
The matter was adjourned to February 24 at which time the court is expected to deliver a verdict.
Copyright 2024 BVI News, Media Expressions Limited. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed.
The DPP needs to consider whether this matter warranted a trial? What a joke. Go after the real criminals.
That sounds like harassment to me.
Should never made it to trial. Pretty clear the police accounts don’t match, not even close. Dismiss the charges AND dismiss the lying police. Don’t need that here.
Why don’t you all go do some real work from getting paid to harass people…. All them do is lie and try cover for each other. set of dishonest criminals
YOU guys went to a vehicle with tint parked on the compound for more than five minutes. Sounds like you all had a death wish. You were suppose to at least use a PA system to warn the occupants that if they have no business on the compound to leave immediately and if they do please exit the vehicle with your hands where they can be seen whilst making their way towards the bullet proof window.
Are you invincible?
It has taken over 18 months to bring this to court? And now trial will go on for how long? What a joke no wonder nothing ever gets done around here.
How can this be harrassment? Is his vehicle exceeding the tint limit? YES. Did he use indecent language to the officers? YES! Did he resist arrest? YES! No debate. AND worst of all, he up in Police yard begging to be arrested. Cart your butt but harrassment. We need to stop bowing to this foolishness.
It is stated that they tested the vehicle and the tints were legal. Hence he didn’t get charge for illegal tints.
The tints were legal. Hence he wasn’t charge for them.
A set a police haters for doing them job
These are the things which lead to problems.
If the police approach you, just explain your reason to him or her.
Some of us are too disrespectful for no reason at all.
You are parked at the police station and getting upset when the police approach you. Disrespect!!
This type of behaviour is all too common in the BVI.
It’s funny how people judge a situation one sided even when the truth is right I front of them. If the tints were illegal, I’m sure he would have been charge for that seeing that all they like to do is rack up charges. The officers story didn’t match up in any way at all like the article says. Secondly, if cuffs were placed on my hand and it was hurting my wrist and school fees and I’ve been complaining about it and nothing was done about it, I would probably curse too. By the way, isn’t this the same officer that was on video in uniform cursing at a civilian? Hmmm…
i could not say it any better / it’s nothing but pure ignorance they should of done some tests on the *** to see what he was on?
The ignorance of people amazes me. The young man was never charge for tints. If that was the reason for him being harassed, why were they never any charges for his tints? How do you know that he resisted? It is said that he was complaining about his schooler and an officer admit to this. But I want to know why he was never charge for tints if that was the real reason. If someone came to to y’all vehicle turn it off and take the keys out without any prior warning, would you not be a little upset? And furthermore, aren’t the police suppose to have body cameras? We’re they defective or they just didn’t care to present them because they know it would contradict there stories and expose them of lying? Y’all please use your heads and stop allowing police to abuse them powers. We are trusting them to do the right thing. And by law, if you are being arrested within any knowledge as to why, you can lawfully resist and ask why. That’s not disorderly conduct. Know the law people. Don’t fall victim to ignorance.
You all just so stupid Google Allesta name and you all will see what type of person he is this boy always in some problem in the US now in Tortola.
You seems like you have a personal vendetta against this guy. You went as far as to google him too? Lol. But nonetheless, what his last has to do with harassment of police in this specific case? Are you saying that it’s okay to be harassed and a target because someone has a past? Isn’t that like some form of bullying? I don’t understand your logic here. You really need to find something better to do with your time than trying to google someone and make a justifiable cause to harass someone because they have a 10+ year old past. Go drink water and mind your business with your nonsense.
Tell the people what really happened and why u were at the station and stop saying the police lie.
Didn’t it say he was there seeking information on a family member who was in police custody? Isn’t that the reason he was there? Unless you know more to the story. If you do, please tell.