The burglar writhes in pain while being beaten by one of the men.
Several police officers believe that the male civilians who beat a burglar on video are not only at risk of being arrested for their illegal action, but have put themselves in danger of being victims of violent retaliation in the near or distant future.
The officers, speaking on condition of anonymity, told St. Lucia News Online (SNO) that not only it is illegal to beat a detained criminal who poses no threat, but the civilians were dumb to record the illegal act on video and publish it online – showing their faces.
In addition, the officers said this case is unique because the beating was not inflicted by a large crowd of people, which is the norm in vigilante cases, but by three individuals whom the burglar and his friends/relatives may have easily identified and marked for revenge.
“The burglar may well be a member of an organised crime group. By his appearance he don’t look like an addict, just somebody who needed at the time or frustrated with the system,” one cop said.
Another said: “From my standpoint, the burglar’s actions were wrong. He committed an offence and so did the persons who beat him. The guy was already captured and the police officers were on their way. Why cause harm to the man? Let the man be charged and taken before the court. I don’t condone vigilante justice. I believe in the law.”
One officer strongly believes that the way in which the burglar was beaten and humiliated could cause him or his friends or relatives to take revenge in the future. The burglar, who begged the men to hand him over the police, was beaten all over his body, including on the head, with sticks and tree branches.
“To be honest, I cannot render an opinion on the future actions of people, but I can say with confidence that I believe that there will be some form of retaliation. He and his friends and family, if he has any, won’t take it lightly.”
The same officer added that some St. Lucians do not think before taking certain actions, accusing them of adopting aspects of the American culture and “putting themselves at risk”.
“Don’t worry, when it comes you’ll hear them bawling,” the officer added.
SNO also asked the officers to comment on popular public opinion that officers, on numerous occasions, have beaten and killed suspects in their custody, so what’s good for the goose is good for the gander.
“Officers don’t beat prisoners for stealing. Sometimes they touch them up to say where they hide the items or who they sold the items to,” one officer responded.
Another said: “It shouldn’t happen on either party’s part.”
The issue of vigilante justice has been an ongoing concern with the local police force.
Police Press Officer Zachary Hippolyte told SNO on Thursday – in response to the burglar’s beating – that you cannot fight crime by committing a crime.
“We as a society, we cannot support the fight against crime by committing crimes. It is clear in the criminal code that a citizen can arrest another citizen who has committed an indictable offence. You arrest the person, you detain the person, you bring the person to the police station or you wait for the police, but whilst the person is detained and the person is no longer a threat to you or any other person, you cannot assault the person. It’s an offence. You cannot wound or cause any form of injury or bodily harm to the individual. It is an offence,” Hippolyte explained.
He added: “So it is not proper. This the reason why we are guided by laws. And if we are a society that contributes or we promote committing a crime to fight crime, then we definitely will never, never put a dent on crime, because you are committing a crime to try and stop crime, so you’re adding onto the crime problem. So we the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, we do not promote this. We do not accept it….”
The majority of comments posted on SNO in reference to the beating of the burglar appear to support vigilante justice, with one reader stating that the SNO representative who posted Hippolyte’s comments should be arrested. The bloggers said they are frustrated with the large unsolved cases of burglary and robbery and this incident will send a clear message to criminals that the public will fight back.
A few bloggers said St. Lucians on a while are totally missing the point being taken by the professionals who have spoken out against vigilante justice. They stated that no one is condoning the actions of the burglar, but the acts of the civilians were also illegal and should not be condoned.
One commentator stated: “Lucians nowadays just never thought that technology and media would have come to what it is today. Like it took them by surprise, they don’t think twice or hesitate about posting. Every single crap and nonsense goes viral in no time. For that reason they ought to be charged for assaulting the alleged thief. Also that mother who abused that young school girl in the video recently. Unless the law charge one or two, it will not stop. Time to make them pay for their stupidity and lack of thoughtfulness.”
Meanwhile, the burglar, Benjamin Joseph, 23, of Agard/Morne Du Don, Castries, has been charged for the offences of stealing from a dwelling house and damage to property.
He has been remanded into custody and is scheduled to make a court appearance on Monday, September 14, 2015.
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