Community activist and attorney-at-law Kareem Marcelle and his two older brothers have won a collective $.6 million from the state in a wrongful arrest and assault and battery case against the T&T Police Service.
The ruling was handed down by High Court Judge Avason Quinlan-Williams at the Waterfront Judicial Centre in Port-of-Spain yesterday.
Quinlan-Williams awarded $618,000 in damages, or $206,000 for each Marcelle brother, plus interest.
In the lawsuit, Marcelle and his brothers, Kern and Kevin, of Beetham Gardens, Port-of-Spain, had contended that a group of police officers used a sledgehammer to enter their house through the back door on June 27, 2018, before threatening them during a search.
They claimed the officers knocked down the doors to two bedrooms where two of the brothers were sleeping.
Marcelle, who was nude in his bed, further claimed he was threatened by one of the officers, who did not allow him to get dressed before handcuffing him.
The siblings and a female friend remained under watch until the search was completed.
Marcelle reportedly asked to inspect the warrant but claimed he was only allowed a brief glance.
The brothers claimed the officers acted in an unprofessional manner during the search until they learned that Marcelle was a law student and scholarship winner.
The brothers claimed they were interrogated by police before being released without being charged, as nothing illegal was found in their home.
In the lawsuit, the brothers claimed the police officers trespassed on the property, as the search warrant used in the raid was maliciously procured.
Through the lawsuit, they sought compensation for the damaged doors, an injury to the wrist Marcelle allegedly sustained from the handcuffs and damages for the anguish and embarrassment they suffered.
Larry Lalla SC represented the brothers.