Several weeks after Toshao Lenox Shuman of St. Cuthbert’s Mission was cleared of wrongdoing at the level of the village council, he is expected to make an appearance today at the at the Mahaica Magistrate’s Court to answer a charge of public indecency.
This is according to a statement issued by the Amerindian Peoples’ Association (APA) which also disclosed the Toshao’s plans to make his court appearance attired in his “full indigenous Arawak cultural attire.”
Stabroek News understands that the charge stems from an incident between the Toshao and members of the Guyana Police Force, where he was accused of withholding evidence in the form of a sim card that was reportedly removed from a stolen phone.
It was this accusation that reportedly prompted him to partially undress in the compound of the police station outpost, a move that an officer on the video was heard saying he did not authorize. The officer claimed that he only asked Shuman to enter the police station so the police could continue with their investigations.
“This is the condition of the Toshao of St. Cuthbert’s Mission at the police station in the presence of juveniles… So Mr. Toshao kindly put on your clothes,” the officer was quoted as saying.
The incident which occurred in early March, which was videoed by a police officer and subsequently uploaded to Facebook quickly went viral, resulting in the Toshao giving an explanation on the same social media platform, a few days after.
According to Shuman the incident began when two “strangers” showed up and began harassing members of the community.
“I say strangers because one was dressed in an armless T-shirt, short pants and flip flops claiming they were there to show us who is boss and to arrest anyone who gets in their way,” he said in his post.
The village leader explained that as Toshao, he enquired and was told by said individual, who failed to identify himself as a police officer, “I don’t care who Toshao is and who is not!”
It was a short while later Shuman said, that a report was filed at the Cove and John Police station on the premise that he is withholding evidence, thus, he submitted his clothing and belongings to be searched, willingly.
