Police
accused of teen brutality
Two East London teenagers have alleged they experienced a harrowing
ordeal at the hands of three police officers after they were accused of
stealing a car radio.The alleged incident of police brutality which is yet to
be reported to authorities occurred in Bishop’s Court, St James Road, in
Southernwood on Tuesday evening.
ABUSED: Byron Lottering and Keegan Strydom say they were man-handled by
cops after being accused of breaking into a vehicle and stealing a radio in
Southernwood. Picture: MARK ANDREWS
By late yesterday doctors were still assessing the two teens with Frere
Hospital CEO Dr Rolene Wagner saying they were more likely to be admitted.
She said the boys had suffered injuries consistent with assault.
The teens – Keegan Strydom, 15, and his friend Byron Lottering, 16, –
said they had been walking in Southernwood when a police van stopped in front
of them.
Keegan said two policemen officer got out of the van and called them
over, and then arrested them on suspicion of stealing a car radio.
“One of the officers lives in Bishop’s Court so they took us inside the
balcony of the second floor where they assaulted us,” said Keegan.
He said the officers used their hands and batons in the assault that
lasted for more than 30 minutes.
“There was one officer who kept on asking where the radio was and if we
had come back to steal more. I did not know what he was talking about – we
begged them to let us go.”
Byron Lottering shows the bruising on his back after cops allegedly beat
him and his friend up after accusing them of breaking into a police vehicle in
Southernwood Picture: MARK ANDREWS
Byron said when the police were done assaulting them they took out handcuffs and cuffed him on one hand and Keegan on the other hand.
“They took us to the back of the bakkie and drove with us to Biko
bridge. The rain was pouring down hard and they uncuffed us and left us there,”
said Byron.
He said that while walking back home, the same van returned and picked
them up.
“They drove with us to Beacon Bay – it was midnight and raining,” said
Keegan.
“They left us near Bonza Bay and ordered us to walk back to town. We
walked all night.”
Keegan’s mother Diane Fisher was close to tears when explaining injuries
inflicted on the two boys by police.
The teenagers faces and backs were bruised and they could not walk
properly.
“I went to Fleet Street police station but could not open a case because
we did not have medical records detailing the extent of the assault.
“We were then referred to Frere Hospital. The nurses told me that the
boys had blood in their urine and that this might affect their kidneys,” said
an emotional Fisher.
She said soon after the boys are discharged she would go back to Fleet
Street police station to open a case of police brutality. —
zwangam@dispatch.co.za
