American servicewoman beaten by police at Cheddi Jagan Airport

Last Updated on Saturday, 26 December 2015, 20:59 by GxMedia

A former member of the United States (US) military was allegedly badly beaten by police at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport (CJIA) after she behaved violently and posed a flight risk, a usually reliable airport source said Sunday.

The incident occurred early Saturday morning at the check-in area e where she had been preparing to leave Guyana on the 5:30 am flight to Miami. The woman has been identified as an American citizen named Ms. Mason.

The source said the woman began pelting persons in the check-in area and was deemed a flight risk and was prevented from boarding the Caribbean Airlines flight. Additional police were called in and they allegedly used batons to subdue the woman on the airport tarmac before taking her away.

Police Commissioner, Seelall Persaud said he was checking on the reported incident.

The airport official, who confirmed that the incident occurred, said it raised serious concerns about the absence of qualified personnel to deal with person suspected of suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. “It’s a mental health issue though she was a flight risk,” the official said.