Police officer involved in fatal altercation named as suspect

March 11, 2015 9:35 AM
PHILIPSBURG--A police officer who was involved in an altercation that left a young man dead now has been formally named as a suspect in the death, Prosecutor's Service spokeswoman Tineke Kamps has confirmed. The officer has not been arrested at this time.
 
A forensic investigation is still pending to determine whether the bullet that killed Akeem Isidora was fired from the officer's duty weapon or from a different firearm. Isidora died after shots were fired in an altercation at Happy Estate in Belvedere on March 4 in which the officer was involved.
 
The Netherlands Forensic Institute will be examining the evidence and will be able to determine whether the bullet that killed Isidora matches any particular weapon. Kamps stated that she could not go into detail about exactly what evidence was to be sent for forensic investigation and whether this evidence was already en route to the institute.
 
"Evidence is sent by plane to the NFI in the Netherlands," Kamps clarified. "Evidence is sent by plane, and a shipment doesn't go every week, so it can take some time before we receive a result. I can confirm that we haven't received any results yet in this case."
 
Kamps also confirmed that no autopsy had been performed on Isidora's body as yet. "An autopsy will be performed, but the exact date is not yet known. For this we depend on the availability of the pathologist to perform the procedure," she said.
 
Kamps could not say whether there were any additional suspects. She would not give any further information, in the interest of the ongoing investigation.
 
Chief of Police Peter de Witte said in an invited comment that the officer had been suspended from his post. De Witte confirmed on Tuesday that the Minister of Justice had signed the paperwork making the suspension official and that the officer had been relieved of his duties in the interest of objectivity.
 
This is no reflection on whether the officer is believed to be guilty or not, De Witte emphasised. Police officers who are in any way involved in the death or serious injury of another person, or who have any criminal allegations made against them, are normally suspended on full pay.
During their suspension they may not carry a firearm or be involved in any type of police duties. They may not visit the police station unless by previous appointment. The suspension is ordinarily in place until the case is finalised.
 
If the Prosecutor's Office decides to bring charges against the officer, he will remain suspended until the case is finalised. If he is convicted, a request will be sent to the minister to have him formally removed from his job.
 
Should the officer be found not guilty, he is still liable for the misconduct procedure. One of the reasons the misconduct procedure is held only after finalisation of any potential court case is that a suspect is not compelled to answer questions in court. No one may be forced to incriminate him- or herself.
 
However, this right to silence does not exist at a misconduct procedure and the officer is compelled to tell the truth about what happened. An officer may be subject to disciplinary action within the organisation despite not being identified as a formal suspect in a case, or despite being found not guilty in court.
 
De Witte could not give any other information about the case, as the investigation in its entirety has been handed over to the National Detectives in the interest of objectivity, and as such the St. Maarten Police Force has no involvement in the investigation.
 
A relative of Isidora told The Daily Herald that a bullet was believed to have been found on Monday afternoon at the scene where the young man was shot. "Detectives arrived and searched the area. They took away an item, as a bullet hole was found nearby," the relative explained.
She also told this newspaper that a brother of the victim had gone to the police station Tuesday morning to give a witness statement. She had not yet been made aware that the police officer had been named as a formal suspect.
 
"We haven't been given a lot of information," she said. "We don't know when the autopsy is taking place or what is happening with the investigation."
 
She further added that a family friend was looking at possibilities to organise a march in commemoration of Isidora, but exact details about the event were not yet clear.
 
The Daily Herald

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