Bimini Riot??

[Logan9581]

Does anyone have anymore info on this?

From Freeport News:

What is being described as as an all-out riot erupted in Bimini on Saturday following what residents of that island are calling an unnecessary police shooting that claimed the life of one of their own.

Initial reports issued by police on Saturday, Dec-ember 22, 2007, indicated that at about 12:15 that morning the victim, later identified as 43-year-old Aschal Dion Rolle of South Bimini was shot by the Police and succumbed to his injuries at about 3:15 a.m.

Superintendent of Police Emrick Seymour, who led a team of officers out of Grand Bahama into Bimini, said that he would not call the situation a riot but rather an "uprising."

However, Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham responded to the turn of events describing them as deeply troubling and unacceptable.

When contacted, Seymour explained that a large contingent of officers went into Bimini from both Grand Bahama and New Providence to restore order on the little island.

"I don't know if you would call it a riot," Seymour explained. "I know there was maybe an uprising, an unrest. I will use the term an unrest, which was the result of a police related shooting which occurred the night before where the police was in-volved in an altercation with the suspect and he was ultimately shot. I guess their thing was that what the police did was unjustfied, so I guess they took to the streets, came by the police station in an effort to take the law into their own hands."

Seymour explained that the residents chose to relay their message through some acts of violence, including setting fire to a number of government properties.

"They did in fact set fire to the police dormitories. They set fire to the old administrators building. They set fire to the police boats and fire was set to one of the police jeeps," he said, adding that a police officer's car was also overturned by the agitated residents.

It was reported that the residents did attempt to set fire to the police station but were unsuccessful. They did, however, cause some damage to the structure by breaking some of the glass.

"There was significant damage to the buildings that I mentioned," Seymour said. "The roof of the dormitory was completely burnt away and all the officers that were living there, their belongings were destroyed. There were eight officers living there. The old administrators' duplex was completely des-troyed.

All that, Seymour said, was done in an attempt to get at the officer involved in the shooting incident.

"That was their thing. But we came over and quelled the uprising," he said. "Of course, after meeting with all the leaders in the community, we were able to successfully quell the uprising and order was restored yesterday afternoon."

According to Seymour, the commotion began at around 8:30 that morning and subsided at about 5 p.m.

Rumours that U.S. Coast Guards were called in to assist in bringing order, Seymour said was just that — rumours.

"There is no truth to that rumour," Seymour insisted. "Bahamian police officers from Grand Bahama and New Providence were the only ones on the ground in Bimini, so I categorically deny that."

Noting that a small contingent of Defence Force officers travelled to Bimini, Seymour said that they came as a support group but were not needed during the time of the uprising.

Speaking with the Freeport News yesterday, the victim's cousin, Mariah Rolle, defended the actions of herself and other residents to rebel against the police on the island.

"Everybody in Bimini is related in some way — directly or indirectly— and the whole community was upset," Rolle said. "Bimini was upset and outraged yesterday... I witnessed the riot, but not the shooting. But we got a call and I saw when they were putting him in the car to take him to the clinic."

Claiming that police were not justified in their actions, Rolle defended the actions of the residents who lashed out at the officers in retaliation.

"We didn't take a life," she said. "Everything that we did could be replaced. I feel like we had to do something. Something had to be done because it's not just hapening in Bimini, it's happening all over The Bahamas. It needs to stop."

Asked whether anyone was arrested, Rolle responded, "it was a riot and if one person was arrested then the entrie island would have had to be arrested. The whole Bimini community was out there."

Rolle said that there is a great need for mature and experienced police officers in Bimini.

"Being on the island, the inspector is never here," she said. "All we have is these young constables running around. No one is over 30 and all of them have firearm and doesn't even know the law. I feel like Bimini is a small community and we need experienced police officers because with these people in Bimini you have to be the judge and the jury on the street. So I think they need more experienced police officers."

Rolle said the victim is survived by his parents, Estelle and James Rolle; two brothers and two sisters; one daughter and one grandaughter.

She said funeral arrangements have not yet been made, but it is most likely going to be held as soon as the police releases the body — 'more than likely on Saturday."

By FreePort News

[whitey]

Im sure Deep C has already spoke to the Prime Minister and has the whole story. He will update everyone when he gets in from catching some "neeters".

[Deep C]

Nope... Didn't even hear about it. I'll ask ol Capt Pat at Sea Crest what the story is... He's above the Prime Minister in Bimini scheme of things....

Neeters have gone away... Its been full on sail time for the last couple weeks and should be over the next few weeks.