Teen’s arrest in road rage incident was lawful, says CoP
(CNS): Commissioner of Police Kurt Walton has defended officers who arrested a teenage driver last week after a road rage incident during rush hour traffic, even though eyewitnesses and video footage indicate the young man wasn’t the aggressor. Walton said that, based on evidence, the arrest was lawful and the matter is under active investigation. He added that police “are working diligently to ensure a thorough process” but that people should not jump to conclusions before they complete that investigation.
The altercation was caught on various dash-cams and phones, and the videos have been widely circulated online. They show how the incident turned violent when a 72-year-old man from North Side, who was driving a Tesla, threatened and cursed the younger driver before he pushed his way into his SUV and tried to strike him. The footage shows the young man acting in self-defence by restraining the older driver in a headlock.
The incident happened on Rex Crighton Blvd on 19 February, sometime before 6:00pm. The 17-year-old had merged into the traffic, causing people to break sharply. This enraged the older driver, who, in an angry response, left his car and approached the young man’s SUV accompanied by his wife, making threats and racial slurs.
During the ensuing scuffle, the older man received an injury to his face. As a result, the young man was arrested for ABH while the older man was merely warned of potential prosecution for common assault. At the time, several people told the officers that the older man had started the fight and had offered to show the police dash-cam footage depicting different angles of the altercation.
But witnesses have said the police would not listen. The entire incident started a firestorm on social media, with many people calling for a protest. Residents have accused the RCIPS of bias and have expressed significant anger about the attitude of the older man toward the teenager, once again stirring up the growing community tensions between Caymanians and expatriates.
Walton has now said that the police are seeking the original footage of the incident that has been widely shared online. However, he stressed that “for any video to be legally admissible, its origin and authenticity must be verified. We urge anyone with original footage to submit it directly to the RCIPS.”
The commissioner said RCIPS officers are gathering evidence and statements from all parties involved to ensure a comprehensive investigation.
“While we appreciate the public’s concern, we urge everyone to allow the investigation to unfold without jumping to conclusions based on partial information,” Walton said in a statement issued over the weekend from his office.
“We recognise that emotions are high and that some members of the public have expressed concerns about fairness and justice in this matter. However, we want to assure the community that the RCIPS acts without bias and remains committed to upholding the rights of all individuals: victims, suspects, and witnesses alike.”
He said the arrest of the young driver was “made in accordance with the law and followed a careful assessment of the available evidence”. He said that regardless of age, background or public perception, “our primary duty is to uphold justice, protect the rights of all involved, and ensure that due process is followed”.
Walton said the police don’t take arrests lightly, especially when juveniles are involved.
“Every arrest is based on evidence and legal grounds. In this case, the officers acted within the law based on the information that was readily available to them at the time and followed the appropriate procedures. We ask for the public’s cooperation to ensure the investigation proceeds without disruption,” he said.
“The RCIPS remains committed to serving and protecting our community. We ask for the public’s trust as we carry out our duty. We will provide updates as appropriate. We urge the community to remain calm, avoid spreading unverified information, and work with the police to ensure a lawful resolution to this matter,” Walton added.
He said anyone with relevant information regarding the incident is encouraged to come forward and assist in ensuring that justice is served.
Witnesses and those with relevant video evidence are asked to submit their information to the police in person at the Bodden Town Police Station to Inspector Kevin Bogle, who is in charge of policing in the Eastern Districts and is leading his investigation, which is being overseen by Superintendent Richard Barrow. Alternatively, witnesses can call the Bodden Town Station on 927-2220 or via the RCIPS website.
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It is ok to be emotional, we are human beings. The question is, how many of us are able to control our emotions? The truth is, some of the post her are nonsensical – driven by wild emotions. The police have a duty of care to everyone and during investigation must be impartial. Their role is to gather the evidence and present the case to the DPP for ruling. This doesn’t mean that an arrest must take place, but may happen based on the statute under which an offence is being investigated. It was evident there were two primary offence committed – Assault ABH which is arrestable under statute and Common Assault which is not arrestable. Other offences might have been committed which would be borne out during the investigation for which prosecution can be made. The police it seems is moving along this premise and I would dare say that an arrest is not a conviction. What is important here, is that the police do a thorough investigation, gather all the evidence and present the case to the DPP for ruling – everyone will have their chance in court to present their side. let us be sensible and not fuel discontentment amongst each other based on race or nationality. Cayman deserve better.
Question Comm Walton, why has arrest warrants not yet been issued for Larry and his dear wife? How long does it take to view the video evidence. Or are you going to use the cop out (see what I did there?) that you could not verify the various videos authenticity? Cayman awaits your response …
RCIPS don’t issue arrest warrants. Judges do.
Judges issue arrest warrants based on EVIDENCE and REQUESTS from LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Lawful my @$$ stop violating this child’s right to protect those who think justice is a privilege not a right. Hopefully the Dpp will correct this bias and unfair arrest before it cost taxpayers money. Had this been a Caymanian officer the outcome would be a whole lot different trust me !
The problem here is this commissioner just does not get it no matter how much time we post it here a person has the right to protect himself or herself from being attacked or assaulted from whomever poor or rich white people driving Tesla’s trucks and that is not privilege it’s his right that he cannot taken away because he wants to protect this very unfair and bias decision made by a foreign police officer to arrest this young person only. Who despite eye witnesses at the scene of this incident telling them otherwise. You know what else he fails to grasp that being treated fairly by law enforcement is also another right that he seems to also think is also privilege that he can taken away. The law has to be fair and appear to be fair you as a law student Mr Commissioner should know that.
no respect for the police farce after the jon-jon incidents…
And them not enforcing traffic laws and vehicle regulations.
The police and DPP clearly have a mandate to protect wealthy foreigners no matter what they do, and to treat their own Caymanians like shit.
Enough is enough!
Let’s solve this real quick people. Provide the police with your videos asap and publicize tgst you have gone do, don’t be scared we got ya back. Mr Walton, once you receive same it is sincerely hoped that there will be a guick referral of the case to the Prosecutors office, where there should be no doubt that this Aggresor needs to be found guilty, fined, jsiked and then summarily deported from these islands never to return. Tired a allbthis arrogance of Johnny come Katelyn with their money bags like that pounds shilling n pence Guy. Facety people. The time come X20.
ammm wha ya say? The arrest was made on the evidence before the officer?! Didn’t people tell him who was at fault? Eyewitnesses? Wha evidence he made dah on? Let me guess: dah angry man & woman that happened to be white driving dah Tesla humpback whale vehicle? Oh I see.
WHat people ‘tell’ the cops is meaningless if those people won’t give a statement or go to court as a witness.
That’s not how it works, bobo. #Fact
we talkin the arrest decision bobo not the conviction decision stuff. stop muddying the water
The only people who jumped to conclusions were the RCIP’s arresting officers. if only they had acted so fast to arrest John John the sitting MP of Bodden town who has been crashing into stationary object for the past years, the public might have a little more faith in this rhetoric.
Its because he was a young Caymanian teen and the police thought no one would make a stink about, thats the reason he was arrested. This along with John’s John’s walk frees need to be investigated.
Well at least this is one thing we agree on! This Commissioner needs to go and grossly blundered with this decision. Larry and his wife are literally caught on camera and audio threatening to “mess this young man’s (who they attacked) life up because they are apparently highly connected here!
The commissioner doesn’t have the final say on whether the arrest was lawful. That will be up o a Judge, if the young man who was arrested chooses to bring an action for wrongful arrest.
oh man, I would have so much fun in court with this… look ya bobo ..Walton said that, based on evidence, the arrest was lawful and the matter is under active investigation. — So wha you saying is, you are still investigating but made an arrest any based on the evidence to which an investigation is still happening? I thought you formally arrest people if you have sufficient evidence or caught in the middle of the act of a crime? yeah you dont make sense.
He added that police “are working diligently to ensure a thorough process” but that people should not jump to conclusions before they complete that investigation. – Didnt the police jump to conclusions or did they act on the evidence that is still being investigated? If you’re at the top with this illogical mind set, we’re doom. No wonder the brits come here and act like we’re swinging from trees.
smh. cayman kind for ya, which apparently only goes from local to expat … smh what a scam.
‘No wonder the brits come here and act like we’re swinging from trees’
I doubt there has been a dumber statement made on this website. And there have been some real crackers over the years. It will have escaped your narrow, bigoted mind that the VAST majority of ‘Brits’ actually respect Cayman and see it as a second home. Ya wee bawbag!
Law of the land: The right to protect person and property with reasonable force. Time to change the polic commissioner.
Just shows if someone gets out of their car and attacks you, don’t hold back and finish them, the police will arrest you anyway.
Easier to claim self-defense, as you believed the attacker was attempting to kill you.
If you took video of this attack on the 17 YO, send it to the police and tell them you will testify to taking the video. Don’t let them hide behind legalistic rules of evidence.
Whatever the status of the investigation, the many videos make clear the young man is innocent and justice demands the charges against him be dropped immediately. The failure to drop the charges in light of all these videos is the mischarge of justice. Hiding behind some alleged lack of “original video” is shameful.
I wonder what the legalities are of me claiming the video, even if I didn’t take it myself, and reporting it as my own? I’m happy to spend my free time in court fighting for the rights of the child that was assaulted by a wealthy racist immigrant.
RCIPS: You got this one wrong. Fess up and avoid an even worse backlash from the community.
Totally agree!
If the young driver was a female, then what?
They would offer to date her. I’ve seen this even at the last Emancipation party in GT.
unuformed high rank foreign cop. rank fa reel
Does the CoP have any comment regarding his force’s failure to breathalyse john john, twice? Who gave the order not to?
Between the rampant
Incompetence, Indifference, Distrust, Discrimination and Still Missing Lockup Guns Drugs and motorcycles from Different events, even a missing Mobile Command Center
Who was fired?
Who in uniform can we trust?
No one!! None.
Andre, Joey and Dan…what are your views on this?
Mr Walton. I am a Caymanian too, and was proud of you for getting that top job. Sorry to say I dont see any way you are right in justifying this.
So what you are saying is if someone comes into your car and attacks you, then you are breaking the law to defend yourself? What about if someone breaks into your house and attacks you – are you breaking the law if you try to defend yourself there too?
Walton needs to be replaced as top cop. His only concern is locking up young Caymanian for cannabis use and making sure no Caymanians can get gun license.
So basically he’s enforcing the law then? How dare our Police Chief resort to that! Outrageous behaviour.
Kurt Walton is a conscientious cop who cares. Unfortunately that cannot be said about the rest of his senior management team some of whom are well past their sell by date and barely literate. That’s where the change needs to take place and quickly.
Many of us had hoped the Commissioner would do that, instead there are too many senior officers there waiting it out to 65 years full retirement age, past 21 years of service with new units always being set up so they can get transferred with new contracts.
Leaders with backbone sadly missing in Cayman.
Of course it was lawful, otherwise he could file a lawsuit. The appropriate question is: “Was it the right thing to do”?
Can you say “yes” to that Commissioner?
from the time he was put in the position of commissioner have things improved under Kurt Waltons leadership.
No.
Improved no, but at least he’s no longer feeding us the lie that “de crime on deez tree islands remains stable”. Baby steps, I guess?
Of course the governor knows that she better stay far from this one. This all falls under her command as RCIPS reports to her, but she has been awfully quiet about an obvious injustice. I wonder why.
Cayman needs an internal affairs division to investigate and arrest the dirty cops that arrest victims of assault.
They have PSU… yawn. Next.
They need internal affairs getting rid of cops who only collect pay and do nothing but protect their friends and family.
And the same top cop has been in charge of PSU for over 20yrs. Nowhere else in the world would that happen.
It would appear that rule of self defense only apply to one set people and not the other. In regards to this commissioner defending the unlawful acts against this 17yr old boy by one his Jamaican officers despite empirical evidence of the victim innocence speaks volumes about the state of our justice system and its fairness .Two recent matters before the courts where their enormous influence and power over our justice system doesn’t bode well for these islands native population. The reality is the perception was already there and has been present for sometime now but to see it blatantly displayed in this instance or situation only proves and reenforces and substantiates that perception to become now belief that it exist. This erode confidence and trust in our law enforcement institutions.That is something everybody should be concerned about.
Money talks, BS walks! Welcome to Hell
caymaians this is only the start. soon gov’t will buy the massive piece of land off the queens HWY which will be turned into a indian reservation for Caymanians while the foreigners rule the main land.
Soon? What do you think that bypass they so desperately want is for?
2:54 – What a stupid comment!
Sure, buddy. Go touch grass.
The grass is slowly being taken from us as well, so I guess we’d better do it while we still can.
I wonder who will get the contract for garden maintenance on our new reservation.
Are you trying to get that contract?
‘Serving and protecting our community’
Did I read that right?
Shame on the Police Commissioner! This young man was sitting in his car and video clearly shows he was attacked. The young man deserves an apology and he should sue the hell out of the police and the American man with a short fuse who exemplifies road rage! Right is right and this young man did nothing wrong!
So would have been the arrest of John John, twice.
The police here really don’t know the law. In training they are basically told to arrest everyone and “let the judge sort it out”. This kind of mentality ruins lives. The teenager should not have been arrested…period.
And since when is common assault not at arrestable offence? The police are now told that if they go to a domestic violence complaint, they need to arrest someone…what if it’s just common assault? Any person in those circumstances, that they think are the culprit, will be arrested. LOL, there is no logic in the crap the RCIPS are spouting.
I really don’t understand why the police must arrest so many people at all. If the person is unlikely to continue the offence, there is no evidence to gather from their body or clothes and you can identify them then there is no need to arrest unless the crime is very serious and/or they are an obvious flight risk. Do as is done in civilized countries and issue them a notice to appear in court in two months’ time…when they do not a warrant is issued.
Some of my clients get arrested and must return to Fairbanks every 4-6 weeks for 6 months just to learn they are not being charged. This system is extremely punitive and wasteful of everyone’s time and money.
Law enforcement on this island needs a total revamp. We are in the top ten of jurisdictions with the highest number of cops per capita and one of the highest incarceration rates per capita…I thought we lived in paradise? I’m sure the irony will be lost one many…
Wait until a domestic doesn’t result in an arrest, and something far worse happens, then you’d change your tune.
Luckily, this is a democracy. So, lawmakers can be elected and have things change, if it’s generally agreed on. Less luckily, it’s the Cayman democracy, in which idiots run amok. Note, I’m not suggesting that the US or UK is any better.
You have ‘clients’ that return to Fairbanks on bail and you didn’t know that common assault isn’t arrestable?
Ok then. Good luck to them.
The old man could have easily been arrested:
From the Penal Code
Affray
86. (1) A person who uses or threatens unlawful violence towards another person and whose conduct is such as would cause a person of reasonable firmness present
at the scene to fear for their personal safety commits affray and is liable to imprisonment for four years.
…
(3) For the purposes of this section —
(a) a threat shall not be made by the use of words alone; and
(b) a person of reasonable firmness need not actually be, or be likely to be, present at the scene.
(4) An affray may be committed in a public place or a private place.
(5) A constable may arrest, without a warrant, anyone that constable reasonably suspects is committing an affray.
Causing fear, or provocation of violence
88. (1) A person who —
(a) uses towards another person threatening, abusive or insulting words or
behaviour;
…
(3) A constable may arrest, without a warrant, anyone that constable reasonably suspects is committing an offence under this section.
Harassment, alarm or distress
88B.(1) A person who —
(a) uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour; or
(b) displays any writing, sign or other visible representation which is
threatening, abusive or insulting, within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress commits an offence and is liable to imprisonment for three years or, if
the offence is committed in the night, to imprisonment for four years.
…
(4) A constable may arrest, without a warrant, anyone that constable reasonably
suspects is committing an offence under this section.
The affray offence is an unusual one in Cayman, I can’t recall any other instance except several years ago where a group of young gangsters essentially started a big public fight, in which that charge was used. But I’m getting old and perhaps it has been used since.
The other offences mentioned may not have been appropriate as the basis for arrest here, and indeed the reasonable suspicion of the constable plays a part in who he believes he may arrest based on the injuries visible when they arrived. But I would think assault would work fine for both.
The young man should not have charges laid against him to save some court time and government money. For those claiming self defence I am not certain in Cayman that that can be used outside the courtroom, ie he’d have to be charged, sent to trial and prove it was self defence, in order for the young man to be acquitted. It would be great if the young man is simply not charged with an offence (perhaps other than a traffic one, not sure what maneuvers he made in the road and Cayman does have terrible drivers young and old) but the injury to the old man’s face is a visible sign of assault that probably cannot be dismissed before it reaches court, idk how that works here. But the public opinion is important in such matters.
Where I have witnessed things like the odd bar brawl, police would arrest both parties and report on all the evidence available. Not sure why the police did not arrest both in this incident, but maybe that will happen eventually.
Not legal clients…NAU clients.
who broke the law?…who first put hands on the other person?
who inflicted injuries on who?
i’ve seen too much bad driving by young caymanians to believe in the fairy tale that the youngster did nothing wrong….
watch the video! regardless of whether his driving skills were bad, he did not cause the tesla truck to be hit, and he sat in his car and was verbally assaulted before a big fat white man joined him in his private vehicle. The teenager should lawyer up and sue the police and the fat man….
I wonder what the RCIPS’ response would have been if it was a young woman in the car rather than a male.
Well, insulting the modesty of a woman is arrestable, so wonder no more!
There are none so blind as those who choose not to see.
separate topic, but the same can be said of many voters in the electorate it seems!
the police is doing what it was always created to do, protect the wealthy from the every day public.
where or what is the outcome of seymour investigation concerning the botched blood test?
RCIPS not see nuttin
The arrest was lawful as the CoP stated. What I don’t agree with is, is the one sided approach with the arrest. The same witnesses that they’re asking to come forward and assist with this case will no doubt provide the same footage if they captured it themselves. That video would’ve shown them who the aggressor was. From the time you someone personal space and lay a finger on them, that’s assault. The young man did what anyone would’ve done to protect themself. Larry only did what he after he “sized up” the young man. He could see he wasn’t about any violence but in the moment, the young man what I would’ve expected my child to do in that “fight or fright” moment. Whilst I don’t promote violence, I’m standing in the young man’s corner with this one.
I hope the young driver reads this comment. You have a big brother here.
We need to treat each other a little more gently. The rat race and pressure of daily life can sometimes makes us lose perspective.
You mean the armchair commentators and legal experts were mistaken?
Shocked, I tell you!
People need to realise that policing doesn’t rely on ‘feels’. The only issue here is why the other person was not arrested – however, since he can still be prosecuted, it’s kind of a moot point.
Does this mean that any of us, when attacked, have no right to defend ourselves?
Why is there no explanation of how the arrest was lawful? Just continuing to say it was lawful does nothing to calm people, explain the law that makes this action/this road rage attack lawful! If in fact the law does protect the perpetrator, the bully, the aggressor, then perhaps the law needs to be changed!!
You realise that the penal code, all revisions, and cayman traffic law are all readily available? Take a read, then form an understanding.
powers of arrest are in PACE as I understand it.
PACE does not exist in Cayman, duh. That is a legislation from the UK!
PACE is not applicable here, we have the Police Law here.
Something being lawful does not mean that it is right. The law can (and needs to) change. Remember, the Nazi’s were lawful, too.
The fact is, if this was Walton’s child, or the child of the arresting officer, this situation would have never gotten to this point. Furthermore, if this was a black man breaking into the vehicle and assaulting the Caymanian *child*, he absolutely would have been arrested on the scene, and to pretend differently does not help move our society forward.
You need any more pearls to clutch?
Nazis? You really need to take stock of what you’re typing before hitting submit.
JONJON is a black man, and he was never arrested or tested. corruption running wild and the foolish people votes.
Yeah, because Jonjon is equal to all of us and we undoubtedly have the exact same privileges as him. Furthermore, his complexion makes the scenario of a single-vehicle accident and police corruption allowing him to avoid a breathalyzer/blood test exactly the same as someone road raging, chasing someone down, opening their car and assaulting them, right?
Are you this stupid in real life, or only on the internet?
When are the police ever going to accept that an arrest was unlawful…..they’ll never to it and this kind of cover up means they don’t hold any of their own accountable either.
You wrong !only the Caymanian officers are subjected to police law and standing orders.