| Unlawful Detention Leads To $17k Settlement |
| Fri, October 4, 2024 |
|
Back in May 2023, former cop Cecil Martinez was locked up for 6 days on a frivolous charge. Back then, he told our newsroom that the arresting officer stated that he was wanted for obtaining property by deception but would not tell him what the item was.
Martinez retained a lawyer and decided to sue the police department for unlawful detention. But the trial never concluded since the government decided to settle, and Martinez was $17,000. Today we asked ComPol the reasoning behind the decision.
Chester Williams, Commissioner of Police
"Again if it is that we see a case where we can't fight it and win, why fight knowing that you're going to lose? We got advice from the AG ministry, they are the legal advisors for the government, advising us to settle the suit based on what they saw on the file, that came to me, I agreed that applying legal principals, we would not be able to win the case and so we accepted liability and then we just look at the issue of quantum."
|
