A San Pedro resident is dead following a confrontation with police early this morning. According to reports, the man was allegedly trespassing on private property when officers arrived to remove him. Assistant Commissioner of Police Hilberto Romero stated that the man refused to cooperate and became aggressive. Police then used force to subdue and detain him. Shortly after being taken into custody, the man reportedly lost consciousness. He was rushed for medical treatment but later died. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, as questions arise about the use of force and what led to the man’s sudden collapse. ACP Romero is expected to provide further details as the investigation unfolds.
ACP Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division
“This morning. Police responded to a report of a male person that had trespassed into a property. Upon arrival, the police saw that this person had climbed a tree. He was ordered to come down. There was a dispute between the him and the police. Thereafter he came down and forced that to be used for him to be subdued, he was then taken to custody, taken to the San Pedro station where we noted that he was in distress and had become unconscious. He was rushed to the San Pedro Polyclinic, where he succumbed. He was identified as Selvyn Seely, twenty-three-year-old resident of San Pedro.”
Reporter
“He’s a young man. I understand that you all aren’t doctors that a postmortem has to be conducted, but was there an indication that the gentleman was maybe asthmatic or suffering from some other condition that could have led to these respiratory issues?”
Hilberto Romero
“We do not know at this time. A post-mortem will be conducted, and a thorough investigation will be done to determine his cause of death.”
Reporter
“The officers, they had to subdue him?”
Hilberto Romero
“That is correct.”
Reporter
“Did the officers by any chance, use suppression holds or other things that may have obstructed his respiration?”
Hilberto Romero
“Yes. He had to be held down and at some point he was restrained and then taken to the station and that is when they notice his condition, he was taken to the clinic.”
Reporter
“In a situation like this, how does one determine if the force used is necessary?”
Hilberto Romero
“Again, the investigation will be conducted by the professional standard branch at the completion and after the post-mortem results the file will be sent to his DPP for her advice.”
Reporter
“Was the gentleman under the influence of anything or did he appear to have been at the time of the attempted detention?”
Hilberto Romero
“We do not know. All I know is that he was behaving violently force that to be used to subdue him.”
Reporter
“And anywhere in this exchange were you able to determine what he was doing on that tree?”
Hilberto Romero
“No the report came that he was seen first outside of the property and he entered and he climbed onto the tree. That is when the police were called.”