A shopkeeper who operates at the vendors market in Fairchild Street, The City, is calling for police to be trained to interact with persons with disabilities (PWD), especially those who are non-verbal.
Shondell Franklin expressed this as she complained that her friend, William Knights, who cannot talk but frequents the market assisting shopkeepers and customers, was involved in a collision with a vehicle on Saturday night while walking through nearby Nelson Street.
She claimed that police were called to the scene but after enquiring from Knights if he was okay, they left without offering him medical assistance.
An upset Franklin summoned the MIDWEEK NATION after Knights, 52, arrived at her shop Tuesday morning and showed her that his foot was swollen from the ankle to the knee. He also explained to her in sign language that he was in pain and told her that the police “just drove away”.
However, police communications and public affairs officer Acting Inspector Ryan Brathwaite said
police did attend to the accident and had been able to get all of the relevant information, including Knight’s name, address and that of the driver.
“The police attended to the accident on Saturday night at 10 p.m. at Wellington Street, The City. The
police did all that was necessary. They collected the registration number of the vehicle and the name of the driver and his address. They also interviewed Mr Knights in the best way they could because he was
non-verbal.”
Brathwaite added it was Knights who walked away from the scene, and police also went in search of him at the address which they received. He said they were still carrying out investigations.
Franklin, who did not witness the accident, said someone came to her shop Saturday night and told her that Knights, who was known as “Shackles”, had been struck.
“The next day another lady come to me and told me that ‘Shackles’ get hit by a car and the person drove off, but the fellas in Nelson Street went after him and bring him back to the scene, because they find him on Bay Street, and they call the police.
“The police came and asked him if he was all right and he said yes and the police left the scene. I
believe the police at fault because they did not offer him any medical assistance, nothing so. He cannot
talk properly. All he can say is yes and no. So when he came here this morning I ask him why he limping, he take off his shoe and I see that the foot twist and he started to cry out in pain.”
Franklin said she would take him to the polyclinic for treatment.
“Everybody out here know ‘Shackles’. He does help people clean up or he does go to the shop for people. So all of us does look out for him. He is a very good man. I think the police should have treated him better, given that he cannot talk.”
Asked whether police were trained to interact with persons with disabilities, Brathwaite admitted that not all officers were.
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