6 US tourists charged in Antigua blame plainclothes cops for brawl over disputed cab fare
By Jill Laster, APTuesday, September 8, 2009
US tourists in Antigua blame police for brawl
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A group of New York tourists said Tuesday that a brawl they blame on plainclothes police officers in Antigua has turned their Caribbean holiday into a nightmare.
An Antiguan lawyer for the six tourists from Brooklyn — who were charged with assault after refusing to pay a cab fare they thought was unfair and then scuffling with officers — said his clients will plead not guilty at a hearing Wednesday.
One of the tourists, Shoshannah Henry, said the group was driven to a police station Friday by the driver of the taxi van when they refused to pay a $100 fare, which she said was twice what they believed they owed.
Henry alleged the plainclothes officers did not announce who they were and initiated the fight.
“We thought these people were trying to kill us,” she said, alleging an officer punched her in the face during the scuffle.
Police could not be reached for comment Tuesday in Antigua, a former British colony that is economically dependent on tourism. A document filed by prosecutors in court Monday alleged that two officers were injured. Police have not commented on the incident.
Dudley Brutus said he was one of 12 tourists — all friends in their 20s — who were taken to the police station during a cruise ship stopover. He said half of the group were not detained because they did not get involved in the scuffle.
“Six people fought back and six of us took the beatings,” Brutus said during a telephone interview after returning to New York. He said the group had not been drinking alcohol.
The six tourists facing charges were released on $5,000 bail each Monday. They have stayed with local Antiguans who volunteered to house them.
An officer from the U.S. Embassy in Barbados was expected to attend Wednesday’s hearing.
Tags: Antigua And Barbuda, Caribbean, Latin America And Caribbean, Puerto Rico, San Juan, Violent Crime
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October 15, 2009: 11:14 am
These tourists have no class. I heard them on CBS giving the impression that they were innocently set upon. They did not bother to say that they cursed indecent language, badly bit a police officer and injured another. They did not also bother to say that they were in a holding cell for only 1 night after which they were put up at the home of a local Antiguan for free, and for the last 2 weeks they were housed at one of our hotels for free and given transport and a driver compliment the government. They could at least have said that they were treated extremely well after the incident which is a far cry from how they should have been treated given that they started a fight with the law enforcement of the country. It is also not true that there were all un-uniformed officers. The first person they encountered was in uniform and he asked them to stop the cursing and desist from using indecent language in the precinct of a police station. |
 Raisa |
October 10, 2009: 5:06 pm
These tourists are giving a totally wrong impression… The fare was $50 one way so a round trip would add up to $100… They were taken to a police station and in our police stations there are always uniformed police… The tourists stated that they didn’t know it was a police station and they said there were a number of police there and later on they stated that they only saw 1 police man… That doesn’t add up. Additionally, the tourists also had squabbles with the vendors on the beach… They did not want to pay for any souvenirs; they wanted to get them for free… I’m sure in America they pay for what they want… What makes Antigua any different?… Also, they made the 1st hit; the police man was trying to console them… We are a country that is built off of tourism… We are an open, friendly people and we understand that tourists impact our economy greatly. The police wouldn’t dare do that. And they were treated better that our locals… They weren’t taken to our jail, they stayed in our best hotels.. I am 18 years old and a proud Antiguan and this situation saddens me. |
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September 24, 2009: 1:26 pm
After 40 years of living next door to Mexico, if you ever leave the country to vacation, please be humble. Remember young people you are in another country where the laws are upside down. Maybe the cops don’t wear uniforms, or the police station may very well be a house. You don’t know and may not know the laws. It may happen so be prepared to be taken advantage of. Pay the cab fare whatever it is and like Johnny Cochran said, “Call and complain about it later.” Life is like a chess game, think two or three moves ahead. |
 JAZZLYNN |
September 12, 2009: 8:52 pm
IT WAS 12 PEOPLE WHO GOT BEAT UP FOR NOT PAYING DOUBLE OF THERE PRICE THIS IS CRAZY WHEN THEY COME BACK WERE GONNA GET THIS STRAIGHT SO ANTIGUA GET READYY BECAUSE U CAUSE PAIN TO INOCENT PEOPLE AND U GET IT BACK LIKE GO SAID GLORY BE TO GOD |
 Pellucid |
September 8, 2009: 8:29 pm
FINALLY, AP covers the other side of the story. Having lived on Antigua, and experienced how you get treated when they think you’re a tourist, their side rings true. Usually tourists just take it. I’m sure it came as the shock of a lifetime for that taxi driver and the “police” to discover that not all tourists are gullible sheep. |
Zackie Hilton