By Monique Washington
A father fearshis life and perhaps even his seven-year-old daughter’s life are in danger after a soldier allegedly pointed a military rifle at himafter he attempted to turn his vehicle around and drive to Jessup’s Village to pick up a pair of boots.
On Wednesday, Ashburne “Ash” Liburd of Charlestown told The Observer he was driving from Oualie to Charlestown near a Police Vehicle Check Point (VCP) in the Pinney’s area. He said he realised that he had forgotten to pick up a pair of boots in Jessups, so he pulled off the road and allowed traffic behind him to pass.
“I sat with my head turned to observe the road so that I would be able to complete my intended maneuver,” Liburd said. “I felt something brush against my cheek, and when I turned my head I sawanarm and hand inside my car turn off the engine and trying to remove my keys from the ignition.”
According to Liburd, he grabbed the individual’s hand, who he realised was a soldier pulled his arm outside the vehicle and cocked his M16 A4 military rifle.
“He charged his weapon and pointed it at me and my daughter,” Liburd said. He then said, ‘come nuh.”
Liburd said he instantly feared for his life and the life of his daughter. He opened the vehicle door and got outto deflect the soldier’s aim away from his daughter. He said that is when a police officer came rushing to his car.
Liburd claims he spoke to ”Sargent Harris” of the New Castle Police, but while speaking with the officer Liburd alleges he heard the solider tell another officer “how many times they would have and should have shot me.”
Liburd said Harris suggested to him to make a report at the Army camp in Fountain Village.
“I walked back to my car and started the engine,” he said. The windscreen washer fluid immediately kept coming on the windscreen and the wipers were working at their fastest mode. I tried to turn them off only to realise the switch was broken.”
Liburd noted that inorder to stop the wipers the fuse had to be removed.
Liburd told The Observer that the same day he visited the Army camp in an attempt to make a report. He said he was threatened and told to leave the compound because the solider was correct.
Liburd said when he attempted to make a report at the Charlestown Police Station to Sargent Michael Hobson the information he gave to the police officer and the information written were not the same. He said he also contacted Captain Kayode Sutton to describe what had happened, but the conversation was not helpful.
On Wednesday, The Observer contactedDefence Force Public Affairs Officer Capt. Kayode Sutton, who said that Luburd was trying to evade the VCP, which he claims is against the law.
“If you are trying to evade legal authority it is a crime in itself,” Sutton said. “Nobody knows why you’re trying to get away from the police. Maybe you have a gun. His actions were suspicious. I asked him why he was trying to evade the police and he could not answer me.”
The Observer attempted to find the law that states it is a crime to evade a VCP, but was unsuccessful. One officer noted that whether it is against the law or not, evading a VCP is suspicious.
Sutton noted that if Liburd was assaulted by the solider he should have reported it to the police.
“The soldier operated with the police, a report should have been made with the police,” Sutton said. “He said he was going to his lawyer, I don’t have anything to do with that, he can do whatever he wants.”
Sutton informed The Observer that a solider will not assult anyone if the person complies with the orders that are given.
“If you give us trouble, we will man-handle you,” Sutton explained.“If you assault one of them then you are going to get it.”
Sutton told The Observer the soldier involved in the incident has not been questionedabout the event.
“I am battling to think of reasons why the solider, would trespass on my person and property in this way and put my child’s and my life in danger,”Liburd concluded.
