Commissioner of Police Ellison Greenslade said that something went “very wrong” in a police-involved shooting that happened on Eleuthera more than a week ago.
While not taking a position on the incident, Greenslade told the media at police headquarters that the people who stood by and watched the altercation between a police officer and Eleuthera resident Kelson Antonio Ferguson, 28, should have intervened and helped the officer.
Ferguson was shot three times in his legs by the officer after he struggled with the officer and managed to put him in a choke hold during a more than eight-minute altercation.
Greenslade said: “I believe that the matter in question went very, very wrong at the point that there was a physical confrontation between the officer and the person that he had placed under arrest.
“Members of the public that were standing by should have intervened and should have assisted the officer, so that that matter did not go as far as it went.
“It is unfortunate that that did not happen. I’m not saying that they should restrain the officer. I’m saying that they should have gone to the officer’s assistance and restrained the young man in question.”
Greenslade said the officer was placed on administrative leave, which is standard protocol in a police- involved shooting. He said the officer also sustained injuries, including serious bites and injuries beneath the right eye and left arm.
Ferguson, who is being treated in New Providence, was placed under arrest and is under 24-hour guard by police, Greenslade said.
Greenslade also told reporters he was only made aware of the video and the incident when The Nassau Guardian emailed him a copy of the video late last week.
“If a police officer places you under arrest you should follow the instructions. You should comply,” the commissioner said.
The video shows the officer attempting to restrain Ferguson as he struggles during the arrest. At one point the pair fell to the ground. The entire incident occurred as several onlookers, including Johnson’s sister, watched.
The scuffle ended when three gunshots were fired by the officer. The victim dropped to the ground and the officer walked to his patrol car.
Greenslade did not comment when questioned on whether the officer did everything he could to restrain the suspect before shooting him.
No charges have been filed against the suspect thus far, confirmed the commissioner.
Assistant Commissioner Leon Bethell has been assigned to take over investigation of the case.
Greenslade told the media that in the future police-involved shootings will be investigated by Bethell with the support of the officer-in-charge of the Complaints and Corruption Branch, Superintendent Melvin Lundy.
Travis Cartwright-Carroll
The Nassau Guardian
