Police reinforcement restores calm at Half Assini

THE Western Regional Police Commander DCOP Kwesi Duku and his entourage were forced to storm Half Assini last Thursday to calm tempers of community members following the death of a suspect in police custody.

This was after some irate youth groups had besieged the police station demanding the cause of death of Yaw Esuaba, a 45-year-old coconut seller from Ekpu community in the Jomoro District.

The deceased, who was arrested last Sunday morning at 0500hrs for allegedly selling a stolen attire to a colleague, did everything possible to secure bail to no avail.

"Several attempts made by relatives and the Assembly Member for the area for

the police to grant the suspect bail proved futile," according to the angry community members.

Later on Tuesday evening, news broke out in the Half Assini community that Yaw Esuaba was rushed to the hospital clad in cloth by some police officers.

Peter Miezah, Assembly member of the community, some inmates of the police station told him they heard a scream from Yaw Esuaba's cell the previous night but they didn't know what exactly what was wrong.

Mr Miezah confirmed that he had personally joined the family of the deceased to find out the cause of death of the suspect but they are yet to get information from the police.

By Friday, when the issue was getting out of hand, the Regional Police Commander then dispatched officers to the community to protect lives and property.

The presence of the police quelled what could have turned bloody in the community following threats by the angry mob that they wanted instant justice against police officials who were at post when the incident occurred.