In other news, a police officer from Placencia is receiving medical treatment after he was knocked out by a civilian who claims that he didn't mean to hit the officer. The officer has been identified to our newsroom as Sergeant Christopher Martinez, and the best information suggests that the blow he suffered is causing him to continuously lose consciousness in the hospital.
The civilian who allegedly hit him is Lionel Francis and this weekend, he took to Facebook to claim that his hand went out reflexively to protect his face because the officers pepper-sprayed him in the eye.
He claimed that he and other friends went to buy drinks at an establishment in Placencia Village, and that's when police approached him for a search. He claims that while he was complying, the Sergeant pepper sprayed him. He claims that he swung his arm because of the intense burning he was suffering due to the pepper spray. The problem is that Francis' arm struck the officer and knocked him out.
He's now being treated as an assailant who attacked a lawman, and so, today, we asked police about this case. Here's what Fitzroy Yearwood had to say about Francis' claims:
ASP Fitzroy Yearwood - Police Communications Officer
"I just saw a little clip from a video that has been circulated on social media where the officer was on the ground, the Sergeant, I know that his condition has not improved as yet. Mr. Francis made his allegation. We will treat this investigation with an open mind, and he will be allotted all his rights. But at the end of the day, he assaulted a police officer. Whether the officer initiated contact, will be proven by investigators. The fact remains the officer had some reason to approach him, and he can insist that that person approached him wrongfully, whether or not he did will be proven. But if the police approach you and ask for a search, the best thing is for you to cooperate. And for him to go public and say that he's struck a member of the force, I do not know if that was wise for him, but obviously, he's owning up to what he committed. I read some disturbing comments yesterday and I had to send out a public warning to other officers, and other members of the department that here we do not operate illegally. And we try our best to investigate every single report, whether it involves the police or a member of the public, fairly. At the end of the day, after a proper investigation is done, and statements are recorded. We will know exactly which direction the charges should go. But for now, I must say that our sergeant was transported to the hospital, and he has been in and out of consciousness. Whether or not the strike was by reflex or intended, it was a strike. It caused injuries to him and based on the classification by a medical officer, we wouldn't know exactly which direction if any charges and when those charges will be filed."
Persons who are acquainted with Sergeant Martinez tell us that he is not the hard-charging officer that Francis is describing him as.
