Rogers seems ‘willing to help,’
says couple seeking justice
PHILIPSBURG--The Richardson couple seeking disciplinary action against two police officers whom they have accused of cursing and assaulting the man on Sunday morning met with head of the Police Internal Affairs Department Chief Inspector Antonio “Tony” Rogers early Tuesday and lodged their complaint.
They are calling for an investigation into what they say was the officers’ excessively violent handling of the man R.M.R. for not having valid insurance papers with him while driving on a public road.
“Mr. Rogers seemed like a man who is willing to help,” the wife R.N.R. told The Daily Herald following their meeting with Rogers.
The Richardsons said the beating had taken place outside Afoo Extra Supermarket Sunday after two officers had demanded to see R.M.R.’s driving documents and reportedly became belligerent when he objected to handing over his vehicle.
R.M.R. was fined 500 guilders (later changed to 50 guilders), had his car towed and then had to go to St. Maarten Medical Center for treatment, after being released from close to an hour in police detention.
Commenting on remarks in some quarters that there would be no justice for the couple, police spokesman Chief Inspector Johan “Janchi” Leonard questioned the assertion that nothing would be done for the couple. “If you are stating that justice will not be heard, then there is something wrong with the judicial system,” Leonard told this newspaper Tuesday.
Leonard also advised members of the community not to be afraid to challenge injustices if they thought they have been wronged, for there were several avenues to take to get justice.
“There are so many roads to walk in St. Maarten,” said Leonard, who stressed that he had little knowledge of the case in question. “If you take it to Internal Affairs and nothing is done and you keep quiet then you are wrong. You can take it higher.”
