October 31 2026

A 32-year-old man died while in police custody at the Vreed-en-Hoop Police Station on Saturday, October 31, prompting an investigation that has resulted in a police inspector and three other ranks being placed under close arrest.

The dead man has been identified as Gavin Kennard Douglas, of Lot 1314 Crane Housing Scheme, West Coast Demerara.

He was reportedly found frothing at the mouth in his cell and rushed to the West Demerara Regional Hospital at approximately 12:45 hrs. He was pronounced dead at around 13:10 hrs.

Douglas’ family has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his death. According to his mother, his sister was at the police station when the incident unfolded.

She reportedly saw Douglas go to a vehicle before entering the station and later asked about him but received no response.

The mother said a senior police rank subsequently called the sister into his office. After the rank came out, she reportedly looked through a window and saw a police van leaving the station compound with its sirens activated. She was later contacted and informed that her brother was at the hospital.

When the family arrived at the hospital, Douglas was reportedly lying dead on a stretcher with his hands secured behind his back in plastic restraints.

BIG Smith News Watch has confirmed that the ranks under investigation subjected Douglas to taser shocks after he allegedly became aggressive while in custody.

The inspector is reportedly the head of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) at the Vreed-en-Hoop Station.

According to information provided by the ranks, Douglas allegedly resisted being placed in the lockups and became involved in a confrontation with them. He reportedly scooped faeces from a toilet bowl and threw it at the ranks before allegedly rushing towards them. The ranks claimed they used a taser to subdue him.

They further alleged that Douglas rubbed faeces on them during the confrontation, forcing them to use the Taser a second time before they were able to restrain him and place him in a cell.

At approximately 12:45 hrs, a rank reportedly went to check on Douglas and observed that he was frothing at the mouth.

He was subsequently removed from the cell and rushed to hospital, where he died.

A close relative also disclosed that Douglas had been experiencing medical complications following a recent motorcycle accident, was suffering from kidney stones and had been taking medication.

Douglas was arrested earlier that day in connection with an armed robbery committed on Wednesday, October 28, at New Road, Vreed-en-Hoop.

Police reportedly intercepted him and another man in a white Toyota Allion at Schoonard, West Bank Demerara, at around 11:30 hrs.

Investigators reportedly linked the vehicle to the robbery through CCTV footage, which allegedly showed the car dropping off and later collecting the perpetrators at the scene.

Douglas, who was reportedly before the court on another armed robbery charge and had several previous robbery charges, was informed of the latest allegation before being taken to the station.

Relatives also claimed that Douglas had previously been threatened by a police rank who is among those now under investigation. His mother is a Special Inspector attached to the Vreed-en-Hoop Station’s Constabulary Division.

The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is investigating the circumstances surrounding Douglas’ death. The scene was processed, and CCTV footage and digital video recording equipment from the station were secured as part of the investigation.