A West Coast Berbice man, Steve Vyfhuis, has detailed a harrowing account of alleged police brutality that left him with a severely shattered foot, as calls grow for an investigation into the conduct of ranks involved in the incident.
Vyfhuis, of No. 9 Village, said the events unfolded on March 13 when three police officers visited his home and requested that he accompany them to the Fort Wellington Police Station. “I complied with their request,” he said, noting that he was taken in the presence of his parents and brother.
At the station, he said he cooperated fully with officers, including a search which revealed no weapons or illegal items. He explained that his detention stemmed from reports that he had damaged property in his community—actions he attributed to a mental health episode.
“This is not who I am but I suffer from schizophrenia… This causes me to hear voices that would want me to do certain things,” Vyfhuis stated, adding that he had no prior criminal record and had stopped taking prescribed medication prior to what he described as his “first major relapse.”
According to his statement, his mother informed officers that the matter should be treated as a psychiatric issue rather than a criminal one and indicated that restitution would be made to affected individuals. “The officer did not listen to her,” he said.
Vyfhuis was subsequently transferred to the Blairmont Police lockups, where he was detained overnight. He said conditions deteriorated the following day when he reported a malfunctioning toilet that caused flooding in the cell.
“At approximately 3:00 p.m… I reported… that there was a backflow causing flooding within the cell,” he said. When the cell door was opened, he attempted to leave, describing the experience of detention as overwhelming. “I have never been in a prison cell before and it was a torture.”
He alleged that as he moved away from the cell area, officers confronted him and ordered him to return. “I continued walking. The officers then proceeded to physically restrain and assault me,” he said.
Vyfhuis claims the situation escalated rapidly. “One of the officers… decided to put a bullet into his shotgun and then discharged a round from a very short distance,” he stated, adding that the shot struck his leg below the knee and “severely shattered” his foot.
Despite being wounded and bleeding heavily, he alleged that officers continued to use force. “I was further assaulted… the officer then used his foot to press down on my head,” he said, adding that he was also threatened, with an officer indicating he would “blow off” his head.
He said he was handcuffed while injured and transported to the Bath Settlement Hospital without assistance. “They told me how to angle myself while I went on the vehicle without assistant from any of them,” he stated, noting that he remained in handcuffs despite his condition.
At the hospital, Vyfhuis said he was again subjected to intimidating remarks. “When I was being wheeled into the x-ray room… [the officer] said, ‘Boy don’t stare at me. Turn yuh face,’” he recounted.
He was later transferred to the Georgetown Public Hospital, where doctors initially feared his foot might need to be amputated. “The doctors could not find any pulse and informed me that they may have to amputate my foot,” he said, adding that subsequent examinations allowed for surgical intervention to stabilise the injury.
“Currently my entire life has been affected,” Vyfhuis said. “I need justice for my situation because shooting me was not necessary.”
The statement, which is accompanied by graphic pictorial evidence of his injuries, has intensified concerns about the use of force by law enforcement, particularly in cases involving individuals with mental health conditions.
There has been no official response from the Guyana Police Force regarding the allegations.
See full statement below
STATEMENT
I, Steve Vyfhuis, of No.9 Village, West Coast Berbice hereby make this statement of my own free will.
On Friday, 13th March, three police officers came to my home and informed me, in the presence of my parents and my brother, that I was required to accompany them to the Fort Wellington Police Station. I complied with their request.
Upon arrival at the station, I was instructed to sit while another officer spoke with me. The officer politely informed me that he needed to search me for weapons. I cooperated fully, and no weapons or illegal items were found on my person.
The main reason for this is because a report was made to the station after I would have broken 2 car windscreen of villagers and also broke up some blocks and a window from Freedom life church. This is not who I am but I suffer from Schizophrenia which is a serious mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. It can sometimes cause people to lose touch with reality. This causes me to hear voices that would want me to do certain things. I have no criminal record and this was my first major relapse and first time ever breaking or damaging people’s property. I usually use medication but because I was feeling good I didn’t want to continue with the tablets which caused this relapse.
While at the station my mom told them it was not a situation for the prison but that it is a psychiatric matter. A pledge was made to pay back the individuals and this was done. The officer did not listen to her.
After the discussion at the Fort Wellington Police Station, the three officers transported me to the Blairmont Police lockup, where I was detained overnight on Friday.
On Saturday, at approximately 3:00 p.m, I reported to the officers on duty that the toilet facility in the cell was malfunctioning and that there was a backflow causing flooding within the cell.
When the cell door was opened, I try coming out and they were pushing the gate and I was pushing back. Eventually i managed to push my way out. They held on to my hand and I fight my way from their tight hold on my hand and exited the cell area into the walkway with the intention of leaving the premises. At that time, I was barefoot and all I wanted to do was to go home. I have never been in a prison cell before and it was a torture.
Shortly thereafter, three police officers approached me and instructed me to return to my cell, stating, “Go back into your cell.” I continued walking. The officers then proceeded to physically restrain and assault me.
During the incident, one of the officers repeatedly shouted, “Boy, stay down, stay down.” I complied by lowering myself; however, the officers continued to escalate the situation by raising their voices and using force.
Subsequently, one of the officers who was facing me backing to back decided to put a bullet into his shotgun and then discharged a round from a very short distance striking me on my foot just below my knee which severely shattered my foot. Despite being shot, and bleeding heavily, I was further assaulted by the officers, who aimed to struck me twice on my head with a firearm but I used my hands to block him. The officer then used his foot to press down on my head. I was also threatened, as the officers indicated that he would “blow off” my head with the firearm. He told me not to let my size fool me and thats why the gun had to humble me. I was told to turn on my belly even though I was bleeding profusely and then they placed the handcuff on me.
After they realized the severity of the matter, they cut an old pants and bandage the area and told me to go on the vehicle. They told me how to angle myself while I went on the vehicle without assistant from any of them. At this time they were about 6 officers there.
I was then transported to Bath settlement hospital still in handcuff even though I was experiencing so much pain. Three officers transported me in the vehicle. When I was being wheeled into the x ray room I looked at the officer who shot me and he said, ” Boy don’t stare at me. Turn yuh face.” At this point i still had on the handcuff. Until my mother arrived at the hospital and she told them he would not harm anyone and the fact that he is so much pain then they released the handcuff.
After being there and I was bleeding alot they realized that it was serious and rushed me to the Georgetown Hospital. After some time there, It was there that the doctors could not find any pulse and informed me that they may have to amputate my foot. After a while with other test and examination they found pulse and they did an external fixation. Currently my entire life has been affected. I need justice for my situation because shooting me was not necessary.
