Nothing found: Commander Watts, group of Police in tussle with motorcyclist

Region Three Police Commander, Senior Superintendent Errol Watts and a group of Police officers on Tuesday engaged in a tense confrontation with a motorcyclist who they were reportedly searching for marijuana but later claimed he resisted arrest after he was found to be without a helmet.

In a video of the confrontation, which occurred at Den Amstel, West Coast Demerara, Commander Watts fell flat on his back, but got up and continued holding on to the man. Persons who were taping the event objected that the officers were harassing the man for a “joint” of marijuana.

When contacted by the News Room, Commander Watts evaded questions about whether they found marijuana on the man after persons observed that the man did not have anything in his possession.

Watts claimed that the man resisted arrest, prompting his intervention.

“I intercepted the person, which is lawful, and the person resisted and we used appropriate force – no weapon used – and brought the situation under control,” Watts explained to the News Room.

The video shows when Commander Watts and another rank were thrown to the ground during the arrest. The man’s clothes were torn during the ordeal.

The man was locked up and remains in custody. He is expected to be charged.