And while “cycle breaker” targeted Banks who police say is an underworld player, it also targeted a community activist with no known criminal affiliations. Carolyn Westby is an educator, a counselor, and a pillar in the community but yesterday her home was raided by police officers – allegedly in search of guns and ammo. Nothing illegal was found but her ordeal of a public and embarrassing search has the community in an uproar. The man leading that was operation was Assistant Commissioner of Police Crispin Jeffries. This morning Westby demanded an apology from Assistant Commissioner Jeffries.
Carolyn Westby, Home Searched by Police
“I am a hardworking upright citizen in this community. I am a school teacher. I am a counselor. I do volunteer work for NOPCAN, I counsel families, I work with the Red Cross as well.”
But none of that mattered to the platoon of BDF soldiers and police officers which descended on Carolyn Westby’s home on kraal road yesterday evening brandishing guns.
Carolyn Westby,
“They went through that door. They pulled the door, they broke the door and they came into my house, invading my privacy.”
Keith Swift,
So they came in and what all did they do?
Carolyn Westby,
“I really didn’t know what they did because I came outside and I said to them, just go inside and do whatever they feel like doing. I know I didn’t have anything in there so I said just go about your business.”
Keith Swift,
Did they tell you what they were looking for?
Carolyn Westby,
“One person was there in a red shirt, he had a book in his hand and he was jotting down and saying that they had a report that I have guns and ammunition and drugs in my home. And I was outraged at that. Jeffries didn’t even come to me. So its appalling Keith, its appalling and I have worked with the Minister of Police, Mr. Carlos Perdomo for five years. He knows me. Mr. Jeffries knows me, he knows what I stand for.
What he did yesterday, to me has blackened the Police Department. It has tarnished my good name. Not only that but the Commissioner, what does he have to say about this. I want an apology and I want Mr. Jeffries to bring back Channel 5 and apologize to me.
I think what Mr. Jeffries could have done was to come and embrace my programs and say they want to work with me in the schools because this is where we start losing our boys Keith, in the Primary Schools. So I am at a loss. I am thinking what is the motive. I don’t know Keith. I stayed up all night last night just thinking what is happening.
And if it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody else and I am afraid. This is the first time in my life that I am now afraid. I am afraid Keith because all I could have done yesterday was to sit back and watch them go into my house and just take over and do what they want.”
And Ricky Valencia says it has been happening to them – almost daily. Yesterday police officers stormed into his home here on Caesar Ridge Home – a short distance from Westby’s home.
Ricky Valencia, Alleges Police Harassment
“Yesterday the man came up, run into the house, meet some guys sleeping and took them for nada because they knew we had a funeral and everyone was going to give their respect. Up to now they still have the guys at the station. We
called and they said they would let them go but they haven’t let them go yet.”
Keith Swift,
Did they find anything when they did the search?
Ricky Valencia,
“Well the men came and found a vest but before that the man said it was legal. The man came, searched, and found a vest and took the boys out of the house but before that he told us that it was legal, you have to have a vest to protect yourself.
We just want him to do the right thing and don’t come and bring those kids of unnecessary pressures on nada. He said somebody dead and that we are looking for retaliation but we are hanging out and nothing is happening and he is like creating problems.”
Keith Swift,
You saw what happened with Miss Westby. Is this something you all also experience?
Ricky Valencia,
“We go through that almost every day. Every day we are out here and that has to stop. Then the man gets on the news and said that this one and that one linked up and he hasn’t met anyone doing anything. He said he will get man out of circulation but for what. You get the sense.”
Carolyn Westby got somewhat of an apology today but it wasn’t from Crispin Jeffries. It was from the Commissioner of Police. The apology came via a press release this evening and it reads, “the Commissioner…publicly apologizes to Carolyn Westby and her family for any embarrassment and discomfort they have and may suffer as a result of the events.” It continues to say that the police were there because information received and not because of malice. But the most telling statement appears at the end in which – the Commissioner concedes in hindsight that the matter could have been handled differently.
We say its “somewhat “of an apology because when we called Westby this evening, she still had not received a personal apology from anyone. We had to read the press release to her.
And just what was that intelligence that led police to her house? Well, police sources say that persons may have stored guns and drugs on the second floor of Westby’s home which is unoccupied. The area is accessible because it is incomplete.
