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Family denies they apologised over police retaliation claim

Police Commissioner Shanta E. Knowles presents Meet the Press 2025 at the Paul Farquharson Center on February 3, 2025.

Police Commissioner Shanta E. Knowles presents Meet the Press 2025 at the Paul Farquharson Center on February 3, 2025.

By AVA TURNQUEST 

and LYNAIRE MUNNINGS

Tribune Staff Reporters

THE family of a man who was killed after a traffic accident denied that they had apologised for their public statements accusing the police of retaliation in connection with an armed raid of their home despite pronouncements yesterday from Police Commissioner Shanta Knowles.

Commissioner Knowles told the press that Moss succumbed to his injuries “a day or two” after the traffic collision near Saunders Beach on January 27.

A day after the man’s family publicly criticised the police for not reporting his death as a traffic fatality, police executed an armed search at the home of his mother — a move the family believes was retaliatory.

However, at a “Meet The Press” event, Commissioner Knowles claimed his family apologised during a meeting at Road Traffic yesterday morning. She said police executing the search warrant were not aware of the property’s connection to Moss and that the commanding officer of the search expressed condolences to the family at the time of the search once it had been revealed.

“We know that the senior officer at the scene immediately expressed his condolences to the family,” she said during the event that was broadcast live from the Royal Bahamas Police Force headquarters.

She continued: “I can tell you that this morning, the family met with Chief Superintendent Porter at the traffic department, and they have apologised to Chief Superintendent Porter and to the Royal Bahamas Police Force for someone in their family speaking out against this without full knowledge of our communications with them.”

Upon learning of the commissioner’s statements, Sharine Williams, Moss’s aunt, told The Tribune: “That ain’t true. That isn’t true.”

Ms Williams, who attended the Road Traffic meeting, said the family offered no apology for their public comments, adding she still believes the armed search was retaliatory. She said Moss’ mother, another aunt, and two nieces attended the meeting.

She said: “We went to Road Traffic today. Well, it went fine, and they said that they are investigating. They apologised, but not the ones that did the search. They ain’t apologise.”

The Tribune reported on the family’s ordeal as a dozen armed officers reportedly descended on their Gamble Heights residence.

According to Ms Williams, one officer approached her in the front yard and remarked: “You think I ain’t see you on the news?” She said she responded: “Yes. I didn’t say anything wrong.”

At yesterday’s press event, Commissioner Knowles confirmed the officers who executed the search warrant were wearing activated body cameras.

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