A disturbing account of alleged police misconduct and medical neglect has emerged from St. John’s, Antigua, where an elderly woman with chronic health conditions was reportedly detained without explanation or access to vital medication. The incident, described by her daughter in a public statement, raises urgent questions about police accountability and human rights protections.
The situation began when the daughter received an abrupt call from Officer Quinland stating her mother was ‘locked up’ and would remain detained until Monday without specification of charges. When questioned about the legal grounds for detention, the officer reportedly refused to provide any explanation while offering limited visiting hours later that afternoon.
Upon arriving at St. John’s Police Station seeking clarification, the daughter encountered further hostility. After explaining she couldn’t speak loudly due to a recent tooth extraction, an officer responded with aggression, accusing her of attempting to intimidate staff and outright refusing assistance.
According to the victim’s testimony, she was approached in town by a plainclothes officer who instructed her to come to the station. When she questioned why she was being held without committing any offense, an officer declared her ‘out of order’ and threatened remand. The situation escalated when another officer allegedly shouted ‘Lock them up!’ after the woman suggested he shouldn’t let power go to his head.
The detainee reported particularly aggressive behavior from a female Dominican officer, potentially motivated by a previous dispute with the victim’s friend. Most critically, the medically vulnerable woman was held for hours in unsanitary conditions without access to daily essential medication, potentially endangering her health.
Despite eventually being released, no officer including the arresting personnel could provide a legal justification for the detention. One officer admitted to ‘only following instructions’ without knowledge of any alleged offense. When family members expressed concerns about medical risks, officers responded dismissively that ‘she shouldn’t do things to get locked up.’
This case highlights concerning patterns of authority abuse within law enforcement and underscores the urgent need for systemic reform, transparency mechanisms, and accountability measures to prevent such incidents from recurring.