Port-au-Prince Mayor Ralph Youri Chevry has publicly condemned an early morning police raid on his private residence that he claims violated constitutional protections and standard legal procedures. The incident occurred between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. in the Juvenat neighborhood, involving multiple armed police units under the direction of Government Commissioner Fritz Patterson Dorval.
According to Mayor Chevry, the operation began with gunshots that awakened him and resulted in the unjustified killing of his dog. He emphasized that no search warrant was presented despite his repeated requests, and no formal charges were brought against him during the nearly three-hour operation. One of his security agents was temporarily arrested but later released in the Delmas area.
The police confiscated several weapons assigned to the mayor’s security detail, including a Galil AC 22 (Taurus), a T4, an AR-15 rifle, along with ammunition, a communication radio, and a surveillance drone.
In his official statement, Mayor Chevry cited Article 24.1 of Haiti’s 1987 Constitution, which establishes the inviolability of homes and requires that any search be conducted according to legally prescribed procedures. He further referenced the Code of Criminal Procedure, which mandates that searches must be authorized by a competent judge, accompanied by a reasoned warrant, and executed in the presence of witnesses.
Despite what he characterized as procedural violations, Chevry stated that he cooperated ‘calmly and responsibly’ during the operation, acknowledging the ‘specific circumstances’ while reaffirming his commitment to the rule of law, legal procedures, and transparency. The mayor emphasized his continued devotion to Port-au-Prince and Haiti, promising to provide further clarification through appropriate legal channels with his counsel.
He concluded by urging respect for established facts to prevent ‘confusion or manipulation’ of the incident, which raises significant questions about police procedures and constitutional protections in Haiti’s ongoing governance challenges.