Mentally ill man arrested after altercation with police

BVI News understands that a young man who struggles with mental illness was recently arrested after an altercation with police officers who tried to detain him.

It’s understood that the young man – who is from the East End community – was accused of breaking into someone’s vehicle. The vehicle owner contacted the police and once the suspect was held, he willingly agreed to accompany the officers to the police station to answer additional questions.

Our sources say that while the suspect was being questioned, he denied all the allegations and got angry as the police attempted to get additional information from him. It’s understood that the young man began to display violent behaviour and started hurling curse words and insults at the cops.

When they tried to arrest him, he resisted and his behaviour got even more aggressive. It’s alleged that more than one cop eventually restrained him but he was taken to hospital for minor injuries he sustained during the altercation.

Our news centre was told that the young man has known mental illness challenges and takes prescribed medication for the condition.

BVI News was not able to ascertain whether he will be charged and taken to court in light of mental illness struggles, which is believed to have influenced his behaviour in the presence of the police.