Policeman to sue State, fellow officers

A lawsuit might be on the horizon against the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines and two police officers charged with shooting Corporal Milford Edwards.{{more}}

Attorney Duane Daniel, representing police officer Orlando Collins, confirmed to SEARCHLIGHT, in a brief interview on Wednesday, that Collins and Sergeant Julius Morgan have already been served with notice of intended prosecution.

Morgan and Collins are charged with unlawful and malicious wounding, unlawful discharging of a firearm, excessive use of force, acting in a manner so rash or so negligent as to be likely to cause harm to a person, and conspiracy to defeat the course of justice.

They are currently awaiting a decision from Chief Magistrate Sonya Young on a no-case submission put forward by their counsel.

On December 5, 2012, police received an anonymous tip that a drug operation was being carried out on the beach at Rose Place, popularly known as Bottom Town.

Several units of the police force responded and Corporal Milford Edwards, a member of the Narcotics Unit (Drug Squad) was shot in his upper right arm.

According to Daniel, the Public Officers Liability Act, which he explained allows for government employees to claim damages if injured by another government employee, has to serve a notice of intended prosecution on that government employee, as well as the Government for compensation.

However, Daniel said he was not in possession of a copy of the notice of intended prosecution.

He further explained that it is not yet at the point of a suit, but noted there is a duty by law, in advance of a suit, to send a notice of intended prosecution, which he said will give the Government an opportunity to settle prior to commencement of the suit.