Philipsburg:--- The parents of Calvic David are ready to challenge the police department and prosecutor's office for detaining their son who was in possession of a kitchen knife early Wednesday morning. Victoria David and her husband Calvin Mathews both told SMN News that police arrested their 18 year old son early Wednesday morning somewhere along Sucker Garden road. They said police told them the young man had a kitchen knife in his socks and as such he will be detained until after the carnival season is over.David said when her son was arrested no one within law enforcement notified them of the arrest and her son was not given a phone call to contact his parents. The woman said her son left home on Tuesday evening to attend the Jouvert and he never returned home. She said someone contacted her brother and informed him that his nephew was arrested by police. Ms. David said they immediately went to the police station and was told her son had a knife and he would remain in custody for at least two days. "Two police officers told me that my son would be released on Friday, but when I returned to the police station on Friday I was told that my son would remain in custody until Monday or even longer."
The parents said they are not against the police and the measures they are taking to reduce crime but she felt that the procedures police are using are illegal. "If the police arrested my son and kept him for two days, then its okay because the youths today have to be taught a lesson but to hold him for so long and to be giving us conflicting information is not acceptable." The parents said they have eyewitnesses who told them that the police just ran through the crowd and threw her son down on the ground and searched him. They said they are now questioning if police has the rights to search someone if they are not a suspect of a crime.
The parents further explained that they contacted Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos who at first was not aware of the case. They said Mos made some inquiry and later informed them that the young man was taken before the judge of instruction on Friday and he was given a lawyer. They said Mos told them that his colleague would further investigate the case on Monday and a decision would be taken then.
SMN News contacted Chief Prosecutor Hans Mos for a comment on the legality of the prolonged arrest. Mos said the young man has been charged with being in possession of a forbidden weapon and that his office would investigate to see if David has any record on Monday. He said depending on the outcome of their investigation it will be determined if the young man would be released on a conditional dismissal and a fine on Monday. Mos also expressed his disappointment against the parents who contacted the press after speaking to him. He said these parents should at least try to find out why their 18 year old son was on the street with a kitchen knife instead of attacking the police department and its procedures.
