Brutus plans to ‘speak it all’ after SWAT’s ‘Unnecessary show of Force’

October 24, 2024

Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus who has filed a constitutional motion against the Government of Guyana has expressed fear for his life and that of his family after the Guyana Police Force SWAT Unit surrounded his living quarters where he resides with his toddler son and pregnant wife.

The Special Organized Crime Unit is investigating Brutus and his wife for alleged financial crime.  The senior police officer has filed a constitutional motion against the state after he was blocked from conducting business at several government and state agencies.

The SWAT swooped down at the living quarters with two units on Wednesday night. Once there, guns were drawn, and trained, ranks adopted tactical postures, faces were masked and they were ready to engage. After media reports highlighted the presence of the SWAT at the location and its posture, the teams retreated.

According to Brutus on Wednesday night, the SWAT’s presence at his home was an unnecessary show of force. The living quarters where Brutus and his family reside is located within a compound at the Guyana Police Force headquarters, Eve Leary, and are occupied by a number of other senior officers, including SOCU Head Karimbaksh and Assistant Commissioner Bhudram.

Brutus explained that the team was headed by Superintendent Singh, who indicated that they had a search warrant. Brutus said no search warrant was presented, and no details on the warrant were presented. While he was prepared to allow the persons whose names were on the search warrant to enter the premises, the entire SWATT Unit, which surrounded the facility with the other ranks from SOCU, wanted to enter his home, and he denied them entry. He defended his action based on their refusal to produce the warrant they claimed they had.

“I am concerned about the level of force displayed here tonight. I am not a flight risk and, I intend to defend these charges rigorously” Brutus told the media Wednesday night in an interview after the SWATT retreated.

In explaining the deployment of the SWATT Unit, Assistant Commissioner of Police Calvin Brutus said the unit is trained to deal with high-profile cases where suspects or a person of interest is expected to use violence against the police.

Speaking with the media on Wednesday night in the presence of his attorneys, the Assistant Commissioner of Police said that all evidence on why the state and SOCU are coming after him will be revealed in court when the constitutional motion is heard. He has consistently claimed that there has been political interference in SOCU’s investigation into him and his wife.

Brutus said the SOCU investigation is a fishing expedition. On Wednesday, he said that in addition to the SWATT Unit, SOCU ranks were also present on the ground. The Assistant Commissioner of Police noted that he arrived home, and the ranks, who were parked at the eastern end of the compound, advanced to him as he approached his door.