As a unionist at BTL, Christine Perriot has been known to fight the green machine, but this weekend the battle was much bigger as she had to fight the law; and the law almost won.
Perriot, a mother of two was leaving a sporting event with her children when she had a most unsavory encounter with the police, she told Keith Swift her story.
Christine Perriot, Claims Police Used Excessive Force
"Why did they have to force themselves into my vehicle especially this BDF with his big gun. Where did they get their training? Do I look like a criminal? Why don't they go and deal with the criminals out there instead of scaring my two kids and me - acting like they are Mr. This and Mr. That and they can do anything they want like jumping into your vehicle. And then they expect me to go with them to the police station just like that?"
Two days later Christine Perriot is still livid and angry. On Saturday she was leaving Roger's Stadium in her white Isuzu Rodeo with her two young sons only 7 and 8 years old when a police officer and a BDF armed with a M-16 jumped into her vehicle and told her to drive, she refused.
Christine Perriot,
"I told him to get out of my vehicle, just get out of vehicle. I asked him why he wanted me to go the police station and he replied that I had no authority to talk to him and to just drive to the police station. I told him I was going nowhere and to just get out of my vehicle, this is my vehicle. Then I saw him call one of his friends to come and then I saw a BDF with a big rifle come by the vehicle and he told the BDF to come in because we are going to take her to the police station. I said worst no because he had a big gun he is not coming into my vehicle. And then the back door was locked and the police opened it and let in the BDF with the big gun. I told him no because there was my kids at the back and the police just opened the door and let the BDF in. The BDF then just pushed my kids aside with his big gun and my kids got frightened and wanted to know what was happening. So all this commotion was happening and I am telling them to get out of my vehicle - you are scaring my kids. I told them that if they told me to backup I would gladly do that but just please come out and let me know what you are going to do: if you are going to arrest me just let me know or give me ticket but don't push yourself into my vehicle and be scaring my kids with this big gun - that was uncalled for."
Now Christine admits that she was in the wrong since was made an illegal turn onto Dolphin Street. But this mother says it is the method of brute force and scare tactics which has her mad. She says she would have gladly paid the $50 ticket.
Christine Perriot,
"Yes I was driving contrary to the flow of traffic according to the policeman. Yes I know it's a one way street but it's a shortcut and I thought they would have a sign saying no right turn but it's a small turn off which I was doing. And when he jumped out of his police pickup and asked 'what is going on?' I couldn't believe he was going on like that for the traffic thing. I thought maybe I had bumped into somebody's vehicle or something happened which I didn't know because he just jumped out asking 'what is going on here.'"
Keith Swift,
"What was going through your mind when all of this was going on - a BDF in your backseat with an M-16"
Christine Perriot,
"Man I think if you ever want to hear how people get pressure? I got pressure! My pressure went to 90 if you want to say so..."
Perriot was given a $50 dollar ticket for driving contrary to traffic. The only good news for her was that, her team won the interoffice softball game. She has filed a complaint both with the police internal affairs and the Ombudsman.