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“[…] The officers (in the Belmont incident) wore no uniforms, bore no visible badges, and allegedly seem to give no verbal identification, yet exercised full policing powers. That borders on impersonation.
“TTPS operational guidelines require that plainclothes officers identify themselves clearly when engaging civilians, especially during arrests or searches. Their failure to do so not only violated policy but rendered their actions legally and ethically indefensible.
“[…] The most horrifying part of the footage shows a male officer turn around and trip a woman, apparently unarmed and non-threatening, physically slamming her into a drain. This act is not only morally repugnant, it is unlawful and excessive use of force…”
The following Letter to the Editor, which criticises the invasion of a Belmont resident’s home by plainclothes police officers, was submitted to Wired868 by A Concerned Citizen from Couva:
(Click HERE to view video.)
The recent incident in Gonzales, Belmont—caught on video and now widely circulated on social media platforms and on Ian Alleyne’s Crime Watch—is more than just disturbing.
It is a damning indictment of the unlawful, unconstitutional, and violent behavior by members of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS). If left unaddressed, it signals to the public that the very institution sworn to protect us is willing to operate above the law.
Commissioner Allister Guevarro and Minister of Homeland Security Roger Alexander, this is a moment of reckoning. The nation is watching and what we see is the steady erosion of trust between law enforcement and the public.
Photo: TTPS.
- Illegal Entry and Arrest Without Warrant
Allegedly the video shows a man arriving at his residence after buying food. Moments later, three officers in plain clothes exit an unmarked SUV, one already pointing a firearm and enter his home without presenting a warrant or identifying themselves. This alleged action, if accurate, violates:
- Section 5(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees protection of one’s private and family life, inclusive of the home;
- Sections 106–107 of the Summary Courts Act (Ch 4:20), where unless the offence was committed in the officer’s presence, a police officer cannot lawfully arrest someone for an offence, without first obtaining a warrant of arrest from a Magistrate. This warrant is also required to lawfully enter the individual’s private home or premises to carry out the arrest;
In common law cases like Terebett Dehere v The Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago (CV2018-02439), the High Court reinforced that for police to lawfully enter private premises to arrest someone without a warrant, they must satisfy two key requirements:
- Subjective belief that the person has committed an arrestable offence, and
- Objective justification—meaning there must be specific, credible facts supporting that belief.
In this Belmont incident, allegedly there’s no evidence visibly or procedurally that such a threshold was met.
In Terebett Dehere case, even the arrest of an off-duty pregnant policewoman in a public court building was found unconstitutional due to a lack of objective grounds. How much worse is it, then, to storm a citizen’s home without any such basis?
(via Newsday.)
- Failure to Identify as Law Enforcement
The officers wore no uniforms, bore no visible badges, and allegedly seem to give no verbal identification, yet exercised full policing powers. That borders on impersonation.
TTPS operational guidelines require that plainclothes officers identify themselves clearly when engaging civilians, especially during arrests or searches. Their failure to do so not only violated policy but rendered their actions legally and ethically indefensible.
(via Newsday.)
- Unjustified and Excessive Use of Force
The most horrifying part of the footage shows a male officer turn around and trip a woman, apparently unarmed and non-threatening, physically slamming her into a drain.
This act is not only morally repugnant, it is unlawful and excessive use of force. The TTPS Use of Force Policy, rooted in international human rights norms, demands that force be necessary, proportionate, and used only as a last resort.
What occurred on that day appears to be neither policing nor self-defense—it was battery, plain and simple. Possibly even grievous assault.
- Improper Detention and Transport
After being assaulted, the woman possibly injured is then shoved into the trunk of the officers’ unmarked SUV. This is not only degrading, it’s dangerous, inhumane, and in violation of basic police procedure.
Detainees must be transported in secure compartments of properly equipped police vehicles, not confined like cargo. The TTPS has a duty to ensure that all detainees are medically assessed if injured and transported with dignity.
Additionally, a point to note, under Section 5(2)(c)(i) of the Constitution and the ruling in Christie v Leachinsky [1947], every detained individual has the right to be promptly informed of the reason for their arrest. The footage offers no sign this right was respected as the officers were seen in a brawl with the family members and residents of the area.
- Unlawful Seizure of a Civilian’s Phone
Following the incident, the same male officer who violently slammed the woman to the ground is seen forcibly seizing a cellphone from a civilian who was recording the altercation.
This act strongly suggests the officer’s consciousness of guilt and a deliberate attempt to conceal his unlawful misconduct, which had been captured on video footage on the civilian’s phone. It also underscores a troubling disregard for lawful procedures, transparency, and accountability within the police service.
The officer’s actions amount to a violation of both Section 4(a) of the Constitution, which protects the right to property, and Section 4(b), which guarantees freedom of expression. Citizens have a constitutional right to record public officials in public spaces, especially in matters of public interest.
At no point was a warrant presented, nor was there any legal justification provided for the seizure—only brute force and intimidation were used.
Alexander is a former senior superintendent in the TTPS and the former co-host of TTPS Beyond The Tape.
Photo: UNC.
- Abandonment of Lawful Objective
Even more telling: after dragging the intended man from his home, the officers appear to abandon him altogether and instead confront bystanders. There’s no visible attempt to carry out an arrest or establish probable cause.
This suggests a complete breakdown of operational discipline—one that likely had no clear legal or investigative objective to begin with.
We Demand Immediate Action
What occurred in Belmont is not an isolated case. It reflects a broader, systemic problem, one where too many officers act with impunity, and the lines between law enforcement and lawbreaking are blurred.
Respectfully, to Commissioner Guevarro and Minister Alexander: this is not about saving face, it’s about saving lives, restoring dignity, and upholding the rule of law.
Photo: TTPS.
We call for:
- Immediate investigation and if needs be suspension of all involved officers;
- Mandatory retraining of all plainclothes officers in constitutional rights and public engagement;
- A ban on warrantless home entry by plainclothes officers outside of true emergencies and reasonable circumstances;
- Strict enforcement of ID disclosure during public engagements with plain clothes officers;
- And firm penalties for unlawful seizure of property, including personal recording devices to hide unlawful actions of police officers.
The TTPS cannot continue to operate like an unchecked militia. Our homes are not battlegrounds. Our rights are not optional. And our citizens, no matter their race, gender, or address deserve to live free from fear of state abuse.
This nation is tired. We are fed up. And we will not be silenced.
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Well said. Thank you for the clarification of citizen rights. I too was appalled at what took place. The people involved are my neighbors I do appreciate the time and the education lesson. I live abroad and was devasted by that horrible footage. I can tell you many lawyers will want that case