The husband of Opposition Senator Shevern John had to be rushed to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital on Thursday afternoon after he was placed in what his lawyer says was a chokehold.
Carly John was arrested by members of the Rapid Response Unit, a branch of the St Vincent police force, at a protest in the capital city of Kingstown.
Lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste speaking with News784, says the situation reminds her of George Floyd.
According to US media reports, George Floyd lost consciousness after a Minneapolis police officer placed him in a chokehold. He later died.
“Mr John is now at the police station; he was released from the hospital and given medication. He is now arrested. No charges have been laid against him yet”.
Bacchus-Baptiste also told News784 that Adriana King and Patches Knights were also taken into custody.
“It seems to me that the police came to the peaceful protest to cause an escalation”, Bacchus-Baptiste said.
She said the leader of the Opposition and Vice President of the NDP met with the Commissioner of Police on Thursday to find common ground.
According to Bacchus-Baptiste, The Commissioner told the opposition leader that the police would not escalate any situation.
Bacchus-Baptiste recounted an incident that she faced earlier on Thursday afternoon.
“I am walking to the police station to visit a client, and I saw a battery of police in army fatigue with batons walking menacingly towards me, so I stood up. The police marched straight up to me, took his baton and pushed me, saying, I must go back. So I said I needed to pass, the guy shouted at me—rude police.
So I went to the other side of the road to head to the station. Another police held my hand, telling me I could not go down there (to the station). It took a senior police officer to say to him, let me go. So now I need permission to see a client. Can you imagine this in a democratic country?” Bacchus-Baptiste said.
The protest ended with a candlelight vigil opposite the parliament building.
UPDATED – 9:34:03 PM – Lawyer Kay Bacchus-Baptiste told NEWS784 that john was discharged from the Central Police Station. No charges have been laid, he was asked to present himself to the police on Friday 10 September.
