Beautiful Virgin Islands

Thursday, Jul 31, 2025

Did police use excessive force on man accused of traffic violation?

Did police use excessive force on man accused of traffic violation?

On the heels of a brawl between a young man and a police officer at a store in Pasea Estate on Friday, September 25, 2020, a video has surfaced of a struggle between a young man and two male officers in the Threadfall Estate area of Tortola on September 27, 2020.

The video, which has been circulating on social media, has also caused many persons to question the tactics of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF) in executing arrests.

Some have lamented that police are beginning to use excessive force and causing matters to escalate as has been seen in many incidents in the United States of America (USA).

According to reports reaching our newsroom, it was around 4:30pm when a young man was stopped by police in the Threadfall Estate area allegedly for failing to stop at the sound of a siren.

What should have been a routine case of a ticket being issued turned into a struggle and subsequent arrest of the young man.


Two officers of the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force wrestle the young man to the ground before handcuffing him.


The young man is thrown to the ground during the arrest.


Police executing an arrest of a man who was initially accused of a traffic violation on September 27, 2020.

Video clip


In the less than a minute video clip shared with our newsroom, at least two male police officers are seen struggling to handcuff a man while an onlooker is questioning the tactics of the police.

A female is also seen in the video, although she does not attempt to engage in trying to restrain the man by the use of force.

“Twice ayo tased the man and ayo rooting up the man like that?” A bystander asks the police.

The man being arrested is heard shouting: “Please, I didn’t do anything. I will take the ticket.”

The bystander then says, “Ayo could deal with the man a lot better that that.”

The man seen struggling to prevent being handcuffed is then violently thrown to the ground.

“I going to take the ticket. What you doing dog? Stop, stop, please, ow. I didn’t do anything. I didn’t even break the speed limit,” the man is heard pleading.

Police subsequently manage to handcuff the man.

Our newsroom has since been informed that the young man was accused of failing to stop at the sound of a siren, refusing to give information, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Efforts to get a comment from Police Commissioner and United Kingdom national, Mr Michael B. Matthews on the matter were unsuccessful.


With criticisms mounting on the RVIPF for the alleged use of excessive force during arrests, including tasing of persons in non-threatening situations, Police Commissioner and UK national, Mr Michael B. Matthews has been quick to defend his ranks.

RVIPF under fire


Ever since police have been tasing persons during arrests, the public has been questioning whether the tasing and sometimes use of force have been necessary.

It was in April 2020 that a video had surfaced of police tasing a homeless man even while the man was on the ground and appeared to not posing any threat or danger to officers.

The incident had occurred a week after a young man from Long Look, Tortola, had accused officers of using a stun gun on him “for no reason”.

In a brief video clip sent to our newsroom, a male police officer is seen firing his taser gun at the young man, who was standing close to the door of a police vehicle.

There was also a female police officer handling the suspect, who seemed to be handcuffed but did not appear to be resisting arrest in the 6-second video clip.

With criticisms mounting on the RVIPF for the alleged use of excessive force during arrests, including tasing of persons in non-threatening situations, Commissioner Matthews has often defended his ranks.

Members of the public have suggested that the RVIPF needs to properly train officers to think quickly in certain situations to avoid escalation.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Former Judge Charged After Drunk Driving Crash Kills Comedian in Brazil
Jeff Bezos hasn’t paid a dollar in taxes for decades. He makes billions and pays $0 in taxes, LEGALLY
China Increases Use of Exit Bans Amid Rising U.S. Tensions
IMF Upgrades Global Growth Forecast as Weaker Dollar Supports Outlook
Procter & Gamble to Raise U.S. Prices to Offset One‑Billion‑Dollar Tariff Cost
House Republicans Move to Defund OECD Over Global Tax Dispute
Botswana Seeks Controlling Stake in De Beers as Anglo American Prepares Exit
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of Obama‑Era Endangerment Finding, Dismantling Regulatory Basis for CO₂ Emissions Limits
France Opens Criminal Investigation into X Over Algorithm Manipulation Allegations
A family has been arrested in the UK for displaying the British flag
Mel Gibson refuses to work with Robert De Niro, saying, "Keep that woke clown away from me."
Trump Steamrolls EU in Landmark Trade Win: US–EU Trade Deal Imposes 15% Tariff on European Imports
ChatGPT CEO Sam Altman says people share personal info with ChatGPT but don’t know chats can be used as court evidence in legal cases.
The British propaganda channel BBC News lies again.
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
×