Last night we told you about the stash the GSU found on Lacroix street: a new gun, a pound of weed and a police radio. It was found in an open overgrown lot, but a press release from the GSU linked it to the Tyrone Gentle, who lives across form the open lot. But what the release didn't talk about is the beat-down they put on Gentle when they tried to get into his phone. He came by our newsroom this evening to tell us about it:...
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"Just for the pin number from my phone they beat me up. Because one of the female officers that were there asked for the pin number."
Jules Vasquez
"Your phone was locked?"
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"Yes my phone was locked and they ask for the number and because I told them that I didn't remember the number, they start to beat me for the number. They beat me until they got it out of me. They handcuffed me on the ground and continue to beat me until they got it from me. I would have to give them it because one of them have their foot around my neck - like I was losing my breath, they kicked me in my stomach, in my back. They stand on my back, kick me on my ankle - they chanced me. They outright chance me."
Jules Vasquez
"This happened in your house?"
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"In my house, in my bedroom. All my kids was around. I have 5 kids and all my kids they witness that. Everybody in the house witness that. When they finish beat me in my house, they took me to the Raccoon Street station and they left me there. They never did anything. They just left me there and they went about their business. The police from Raccoon Street station took me to hospital, because I told them I needed to go to the hospital. They took 5 x-rays on me and they send me back the night and they detained until today. Today, before they release me, two of them pick up and took me at Queen Street Police Station and they profile me and then they asked me so many questions and then they let me go."
Jules Vasquez
"Have you been charged with anything?"
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"No. No charges."
Jules Vasquez
"Now I see your eye is red and like you have a black and blue on your cheek. What's the state of your injuries?"
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"They state of injuries from the doctor is harm."
Jules Vasquez
"They classified the injuries as harm."
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"They didn't had to brutalized me just for my pin number from my phone and I totally are against it to the fullest. I don't like the idea about it. That's why I came to the media to try and address it, because I don't know if they will continue harass me or provoke me. I got my family and I work hard. I do construction work and I sell car parts and I got a tire shop and a welding shop - I am trying to do something positive and they just come and abuse me just like that. I will not allow that and in front of my kids too. They could have done better than that."
Jules Vasquez
"Now these guys are saying you are part of the PIV gang and that you are stashing things across from your house."
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"I am no part of any PIV gang. As I told them today that I am not a part of any gang. I could walk go anywhere in Belize City and nobody will harass me, nobody will mess with me, because I do not mess with people. I am not part of PIV gang. I want to address that to them clearly. I am not part of any gang on a whole."
Jules Vasquez
"Did you know anything about the stuff stashed across from your house?"
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"I don't know anything about that."
Jules Vasquez
"Did they at any time present a warrant...?"
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"No warrant. They just say they came to search from drugs and ammunition. That's all they said and they barge in my house and do what they have to do."
Jules Vasquez
"So when Chester Williams is about talking about community policing, I met him many times on Lacroix, but then it just ring hollow."
Tyrone Gentle, Beaten by GSU
"I see that the GSU doesn't have to answer to the rest of police like Chester Williams no anyone. They just do what they want to do. They act like they mash up anyone and do anybody anything and nothing will come out of it. That is how I feel towards the situation. Because when I went to the Raccoon Police Station, the police there treats me nice and everything. They tend to me and they took me to the hospital, because they didn't have to do it neither. I don't have any problem with them, but just the GSU squad - the way they operate and chance people."
As you heard, Gentle says he will sue the police.
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