-mother says body bore marks of violence
Thirty-two-year-old Gavin Kennard Douglas was found dead in custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station with his mother, Colette Jones, reporting that his body bore marks of violence.
Douglas, of Lot 416 Crane, West Coast Demerara, was reportedly stopped by police in a roadblock while driving motorcar PAL 2278 and taken to the station in connection with an alleged robbery.
Jones, an inspector attached to the Special Constabulary Department, said she went to the station and found her son already “stretched out” there.
Up to press time there was no statement from the police.
Speaking with Kiskadee Watch last night, Jones said no one had contacted her to inform her of what had happened. Further, she said the commander was not present at the time and she has to depend on the information relayed to him by others.
Jones said she later heard at the West Demerara Regional Hospital, where her son was taken, that he had allegedly been tasered three times. Describing what she observed, she said the left side of his neck was swollen, his veins appeared swollen and he was foaming at the mouth.
Jones said she assumed that her son might have resisted but questioned just how much he could have done if his hands were behind his back; he was handcuffed.
She said the Police Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) was expected to contact her and that she hoped a post-mortem examination would be conducted by Monday.
The father of the dead man Gavin Douglas Snr also shared that to his knowledge, marks of violence were found on his son’s body. “The police is not telling me what I need to hear”.
Sister of the deceased, Reanna Douglas, said the family had been at the police station since shortly after noon, seeking information about what had happened. She spoke with an inspector and was told that her brother had been detained for disorderly behaviour after allegedly picking up faeces and throwing it at someone.
She said the police officers told the hospital that her brother was a “junkie”.
She noted that his car remained at the police station, adding that he had apparently complied when police stopped him and accompanied them to the station. “Only God knows what happened when he came to the station,” she said.
She shared that Douglas was the father of one child and worked as a taxi driver, while also doing construction work at times.
Meanwhile, WIN Member of Parliament Gordon Barker, in a statement, said he was disturbed by reports surrounding Douglas’ death and called for an urgent, independent and transparent investigation.
Barker referred to allegations that Douglas had been tortured before his death and said accounts from his father, along with videos and images circulating about the incident, raised serious concerns.
He said detention did not remove a person’s right to life, dignity and protection from torture or cruel treatment.
“If these allegations are substantiated, those responsible must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Barker said, adding that no conclusions should be reached prematurely.
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