tourist charged with assaulting police officer in bahamas

Canadian senior with Alzheimer's sexually assaulted while on vacation, family says

Horrific allegations are emerging of a sexual assault against a senior, who was on vacation with her family in the Bahamas last month.

A trip to Paradise Island was anything but a dream. It turned into a nightmare when the family's 80-year-old mother, who has Alzheimer's, was allegedly raped by another guest, a fellow Canadian.

"It's just an unspeakable, horrendous, vile, violent angry crime against somebody who is so vulnerable," said David Ahrens, the son of the alleged victim.

He wasn't at the hotel the night it happened, but flew in immediately when his sister, who was vacationing with their mother, called about the incident.

The family feels passionate about sharing this story as a warning – they don't want people with vulnerable family members not to travel, but to do so safely and with a bit of extra caution.

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The trip was coming to a close when Ahrens says an uninvited guest joined his sister and mother with their friends for dinner. While heading back to their hotel room, they became separated, leaving the elderly woman alone on an elevator with that guest.

"My younger sister stepped out of the elevator and as she turned around to sort of hand out to get my mom, the doors closed and effectively my mother disappeared," Ahrens said.

What followed is described by the family as a traumatic event. For roughly 30 minutes, Ahrens' sister and her friends frantically searched the hotel, floor by floor, while pleading with hotel staff to look at security footage or help find where the 80-year-old had gone. About a half-hour later, their mother and the man were found coming off an elevator.

"Of course my mother was frightened and while we don't need to go into a ton of detail, but what I will say, and it is horrendous, that she was holding her own underwear in her hand at that point in the elevator," Ahrens said.

Local police arrived at the hotel and Ahrens mother was taken to hospital, where he says staff performed a rape kit that allegedly came back positive. Local media in the Bahamas are reporting that police have charged a 61-year-old Nova Scotia man, accusing him of raping an 80-year-old woman at the Warwick Hotel.

Police have not responded to CTV's request for comment. Global Affairs Canada has confirmed to CTV News it's aware of a Canadian arrested in the Bahamas.

Ahrens says security video shows his mother resisting as the man took her into a hotel room, adding police have worked well in supporting the family.

"Our concern is the combination of Alzheimer's plus this incident of being sexually assaulted and rape, you know, that's playing with her mind. So we're just worried it's playing in her subconscious and it's just making things worse at the moment," Ahrens said.

The family often takes their mother on vacations to allow her to continue to have experiences and live life in a wholesome way.

"She still deserves to create memories even if they don't last for a long time. It's also a memory for us," Ahrens said.

They don't want to scare other families with vulnerable family members from travelling, but would like to share their message as a warning and reminder to be extra cautious.

"Understand where that person is and how they need to be protected. Ask the front desk what are their security protocols. Ask them where they find security should something happen and what they'll do in certain situations. Don't be shy," Ahrens suggested, after learning from this situation and the disappointment her family felt from the lack of support from hotel staff.

The family says their mother is at their side "like Velcro," but know you can never be too careful.

Resources for sexual assault survivors

If you or someone you know is struggling with sexual assault or trauma, the following resources are available to support people in crisis:

If you are in immediate danger or fear for your safety, you should call 911.

A full list of sexual assault centres in Canada that offer information, advocacy and counselling can be found ​at the website for the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres.

Helplines, legal services and locations that offer sexual assault kits in Alberta, B.C., Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Quebec, Ontario and Nova Scotia can be found here .

National Residential School Crisis Line: +1 866 925 4419

24-hour crisis line: 416 597 8808

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline: +1 833 900 1010

Trans Lifeline: +1 877 330 6366

Sexual misconduct support for current or former members of the Armed Forces: +1 844 750 1648

Read about your rights as a victim.

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U.S. warns against travel to the Bahamas over gang violence

Officials report 18 murders so far this year.

Andrea Torres , Digital Journalist

MIAMI – The U.S. State Department warned Americans against travel to the Bahamas on Monday after gang violence resulted in 18 murders — even in broad daylight — just this year, in Nassau.

Monday’s Level 2 travel advisory to “exercise increased caution” follows a security alert issued on Wednesday by diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas.

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Diplomats asked U.S. citizens to avoid the eastern part of New Providence Island, review security plans, use caution when walking or driving, keep a low profile, not physically resist a robbery, and stay “vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties.

The Over the Hill area, south of Shirley Street, is the most dangerous, officials warned, also mentioning the recent shark attacks and the lack of regulation of tourist attractions.

A shark in a tank exhibition at the Atlantis Paradise Island resort recently attacked a 10-year-old boy from Maryland who was participating in a controlled activity, according to Bahamian authorities.

Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.

About the Author

Andrea torres.

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

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Us tourist from boston killed in shark attack in bahamas, police say, boy, 10, attacked by shark at bahamian resort.

Staff members at Bahamas resort arrested for drugging, assaulting 2 women: Police

Two resort staffers were arrested in the Bahamas after a pair of American women on vacation said they were drugged and assaulted, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Amber Sherer and Dongayla Dobson went on vacation without their kids for the first time earlier this month, taking a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas. On the last day of their trip, the cruise stopped on Grand Bahama Island and the two women went to a resort that was recommended by the cruise company, the women said.

Sherer and Dobson said resort staff offered them a two-for-one drink -- which they accepted -- and almost immediately began feeling ill.

"After the first drink, we had to get out of the ocean, because we noticed that it was just hitting so hard. I just felt so out of it," Dobson said in an interview that aired Thursday on "Good Morning America."

The two women said they lost consciousness and were assaulted by two resort staff members. The two mothers said they had bruises on their legs and tested positive for various drugs.

"I vaguely remember glimpses of his face. I don't remember all of it,"Dobson said. "I don't remember everything, but I remembered enough of that -- he was a staff worker, and he had a goatee, and he was a local -- that the resort security was able to pull the footage and identify them right then and there."

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that they "recognize the seriousness of such matters and handle them with the highest level of professionalism, privacy and sensitivity."

Police said preliminary reports indicate that the incident occurred on Feb. 4, shortly after noon at a Central Grand Bahama beach. Police began their investigation upon learning of the incident and arrested two men -- a 54-year-old man from Eight Mile Rock and a 40-year-old man from South Bahamia.

Officers later boarded the ship and provided a sexual assault kit, hospital form from the ship's medical doctor and obtained the women's statements, police said.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force is working with the FBI on the investigation.

"Through the FBI's Legal Attaché office in Nassau, we have strong, established relationships and stand ready to assist in any way the Bahamian government may request. We refer you to Royal Bahamas Police Force, which is leading the investigation, for any comment on this matter," the FBI said in a statement.

Carnival Cruises said in a statement that they are providing their full cooperation to authorities.

"While ashore in Freeport, Bahamas, on an independent shore excursion, two guests on Carnival Elation reported to Bahamian Police that they were sexually assaulted at a local beach," Carnival Cruises told ABC News in a statement. "Our onboard care team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville. Bahamian Police are investigating the matter and Carnival is providing our full cooperation."

The U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas in January, warning that there has been an increase in homicides and sexual violence.

The two mothers told ABC News that the arrests are not enough and are demanding justice.

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New call for probe on police brutality

As of Wednesday, November 10, 2021

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By KHRISNA RUSSELL

Tribune Chief Reporter

[email protected]

HUMAN Rights Bahamas has demanded full and fair investigations into allegations of police brutality and misconduct, insisting that if the public cannot feel safe in the presence of officers all human rights are at risk.

HRB pinpointed several instances of alleged egregious complaints by citizens against police officers, which they say highlight unprofessionalism.

One such recent incident was a young woman suspected of a traffic offence who was placed in the same holding cell as a male suspect who proceeded to masturbate in her presence and indecently assault her.

“It is completely unfathomable that such careless and unprofessional negligence could occur at a police station in The Bahamas,” HRB said in a statement released to The Tribune yesterday.

HRB further noted a 2019 incident in which a man was held at gunpoint and assaulted by the police resulting in eight of his teeth being knocked out or damaged.

He was awarded $82,000 in damages by the courts, but the police force has remained silent regarding any disciplinary actions against the officer involved.

In another incident, a viral video has also been circulated showing an unidentified man, allegedly an off-duty police officer, choking a young woman with both his hands around her neck, pushing her against a vehicle as he shouts for a pair of handcuffs and demands the cell phone recording the incident be turned over to him.

The woman in the video and her boyfriend have since been charged with assaulting officers.

“Recording a law enforcement officer in the execution of their duties is not a criminal offence in The Bahamas; for the officer in question to seek to confiscate and presumably delete the footage therefore represents a violation of an individual’s fundamental rights to property and freedom of expression,” HRB said.

The group also said the long-suffering family of Marvin Pratt is still trying to learn his whereabouts after he suddenly disappeared. He was reportedly last seen in police custody more than three years ago. Eyewitnesses claim he was placed in a marked police vehicle and taken to the Central Detective Unit. To this day, the police deny having any arrest or detention record for Mr Pratt.

In March 2019 Supreme Court Justice Andrew Forbes delayed his ruling on a habeas corpus application in the case of 40-year-old Mr Pratt, after agreeing that government filings in the case have not fully addressed the specifics as laid out in the application.

During those proceedings, counsel for Mr Pratt, Callenders & Co lawyer Crispin Hall, argued the response filed by the attorney for the Crown, Ryan Sands, on behalf of Chief Superintendent Solomon Cash, the officer-in-charge of the Central Detective Unit, only spoke to the role of his unit and not the entire Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Mr Hall further argued the response neglected to clearly address the roles of then-Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson and then-Attorney General Carl Bethel – the two other respondents named in the habeas corpus application.

The habeas corpus application sought to compel the Royal Bahamas Police Force to produce the Gambier Village resident police deny having in custody.

Mr Pratt’s family insisted Drug Enforcement Unit (DEU) officers arrested him on December 5, 2018, a claim then-Commissioner Anthony Ferguson denied.

“We are demanding that Minister of National Security Wayne Munroe and the Commissioner of Police Paul Rolle conduct a full and fair investigation into these and other similar recent events of police brutality and misconduct.

“If members of the public cannot feel safe in the presence of law enforcement officers, all of our human rights are at risk,” HRB said yesterday.

DWW 2 years, 5 months ago

key word is transparent

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JokeyJack 2 years, 5 months ago

Yall wearing masks nearly 2 years now and talking about human rights being "at risk"???? LOL. Human rights long gone. Keep ya mask on and shut up.

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Staff members at Bahamas resort arrested for drugging, assaulting 2 American women: Police

Two resort staffers were arrested in the Bahamas after a pair of American women on vacation said they were drugged and assaulted, according to the Royal Bahamas Police Force.

Amber Sherer and Dongayla Dobson went on vacation without their kids for the first time earlier this month, taking a Carnival cruise to the Bahamas. On the last day of their trip, the cruise stopped on Grand Bahama Island and the two women went to a resort that was recommended by the cruise company, the women said.

Sherer and Dobson said resort staff offered them a two-for-one drink -- which they accepted -- and almost immediately began feeling ill.

"After the first drink, we had to get out of the ocean, because we noticed that it was just hitting so hard. I just felt so out of it," Dobson said in an interview that aired Thursday on "Good Morning America."

MORE: US issues new travel advisory for Jamaica, Bahamas due to increased crime

The two women said they lost consciousness and were assaulted by two resort staff members. The two mothers said they had bruises on their legs and tested positive for various drugs.

"I vaguely remember glimpses of his face. I don't remember all of it," Dobson said. "I don't remember everything, but I remembered enough of that -- he was a staff worker, and he had a goatee, and he was a local -- that the resort security was able to pull the footage and identify them right then and there."

The Royal Bahamas Police Force said in a statement that they "recognize the seriousness of such matters and handle them with the highest level of professionalism, privacy and sensitivity."

Police said preliminary reports indicate that the incident occurred on Feb. 4, shortly after noon at a Central Grand Bahama beach. Police began their investigation upon learning of the incident and arrested two men -- a 54-year-old man from Eight Mile Rock and a 40-year-old man from South Bahamia.

Officers later boarded the ship and provided a sexual assault kit, hospital form from the ship's medical doctor and obtained the women's statements, police said.

The Royal Bahamas Police Force is working with the FBI on the investigation.

"Through the FBI's Legal Attaché office in Nassau, we have strong, established relationships and stand ready to assist in any way the Bahamian government may request. We refer you to Royal Bahamas Police Force, which is leading the investigation, for any comment on this matter," the FBI said in a statement.

In a statement to ABC News, the Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park said, in part, "we are very concerned about the allegations made and will continue to cooperate with authorities to faithfully resolve the issue" and noted that while the police investigation is ongoing, they have "terminated the employment of the two accused."

"At Pirates Cove, the safety of our guests and team members is always paramount. We regret that our guests experienced this incident, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to aid police in the collection of evidence in response to these allegations, including providing Police access to video from the sixteen cameras around the beach facility where the assault of the two guests allegedly occurred," Pirates Cove said in the statement.

"We are very concerned about the allegations made and will continue to cooperate with authorities to faithfully resolve the issue," the statement said.

Carnival Cruises said in a statement that they are providing their full cooperation to authorities.

"While ashore in Freeport, Bahamas, on an independent shore excursion, two guests on Carnival Elation reported to Bahamian Police that they were sexually assaulted at a local beach," Carnival Cruises told ABC News in a statement. "Our onboard care team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville. Bahamian Police are investigating the matter and Carnival is providing our full cooperation."

The U.S. State Department issued a Level 2 travel advisory for the Bahamas in January, warning that there has been an increase in homicides and sexual violence.

The two mothers told ABC News that the arrests are not enough and are demanding justice.

Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect a statement received by ABC News from the Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park.

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2 women on cruise out of Florida reported being drugged, raped in Bahamas. What we know

State department warns violent crimes, including sexual assaults, occur in tourist and non-tourist areas in the bahamas..

• The two women had gone on a Carnival cruise that left Jacksonville, Florida..
• The women told authorities a resort employee allegedly gave them drinks spiked with a cocktail of drugs.
• The Level 2 travel advisory warns travelers to exercise increased caution due to crime.

A couple of weeks after the U.S. Department of State issued a travel warning for the Bahamas , two Kentucky women reported being drugged and sexually assaulted .

The two women were on a Carnival cruise that left Jacksonville and said they were unaware of the travel warning and "not aware of any warnings given by Carnival," according to their Miami-based attorney, Nicholas Gerson.

Carnival offers cruises out of four Florida ports, and the Bahamas is one of several destinations offered.

Two women reported being drugged, raped on Bahamas beach. What happened?

The women, two mothers from Kentucky, told  News Nation 's Chris Cuomo they were "relaxing on a Grand Bahama beach" when a resort employee allegedly gave them drinks spiked with a cocktail of drugs, including benzodiazepines.

"They were given drinks — a coconut and pineapple drink — spiked with a series of drug and narcotics," Gerson told the USA TODAY. "They became inebriated and were both taken away and raped."

One of the women told Cuomo she and her friend went to look for seashells for their children with "a male resort employee" and the next thing she remembered she "was waking up while she was being assaulted by a uniformed male resort staffer."

Toxicology results found little if no alcohol in women but they tested positive for benzos and other drugs, including cocaine, according to Gerson.

What are benzodiazepines or benzos?

Benzodiazepines , also known as benzos, are depressants that slow down activity in your brain and nervous system, according to Cleveland Clinic .

They can cause extreme drowsiness, confusion , impaired coordination, decreased reflexes, respiratory depression, coma, and possible death.

The most common benzodiazepines are the prescription drugs Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, and Klonopin, according to the DEA .

Where did the recent attacks take place in the Bahamas?

According to a preliminary report from the   Royal Bahamas Police Force , the attacks took place shortly after noon Feb. 4 while the two women visited a beach in Central Grand Bahama.

Gerson said on the day of the alleged assaults, his clients went on an excursion called "Pirate's Cove Beach Getaway" and were taken to the island by a shuttle arranged by Carnival.

Was anyone arrested in the Bahamas attack on 2 women?

Police in the Bahamas have arrested two people on sexual assault charges.

"Quick response," by officers in  Grand Bahama , the northernmost island of the Bahamas in the Atlantic Ocean, resulted in the arrest of a 54-year-old man of Eight Mile Rock and a 40-year-old man of South Bahamia, after they allegedly sexually assaulted two women on Sunday, the  Royal Bahamas Police Force  said.

What did Carnival have to say about the attacks?

Carnival released the following statement to USA TODAY:

"While ashore in Freeport, Bahamas on an independent shore excursion, two guests on Carnival Elation reported to Bahamian police that they were sexually assaulted at a local beach. Our onboard Care Team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville. Bahamian police are investigating the matter and Carnival is providing our full cooperation."

How did Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park respond to reports of an attack?

"At Pirates Cove, the safety of our guests and team members is always paramount," a spokesperson for Pirates Cove Zipline and Water Park said in an email.

"We regret that our guests experienced this incident, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to aid police in the collection of evidence in response to these allegations, including providing police access to video from the 16 cameras around the beach facility where the assault of the two guests allegedly occurred.

"We take great pride in ensuring our guests have a safe and enjoyable experience when visiting Pirates Cove. In addition to having safety personnel and CCTV surveillance throughout the park, employees and vendors of Pirates Cove must follow strict guidelines when interacting with guests. We have a zero-tolerance policy for fraternizing with guests or behaving in a manner that is unsafe.

"While there is an active police investigation into these serious allegations, we have terminated the employment of the two accused, as the behavior seen on tape by management indicates that at a minimum, they violated our zero-tolerance policy."

What is the travel warning for the Bahamas?

The  United States Department of State  issued a  Level 2 travel advisory  for travelers heading to the Bahamas in January.

The  advisory warns travelers  to "exercise increased caution" due to crime, specifically on the islands of New Providence, which includes Nassau, and Grand Bahama, which includes Freeport.

"Violent crime —  such as burglaries, armed robberies, and sexual assaults —  occur in both tourist and non-tourist areas. Be vigilant when staying at short-term vacation rental properties where private security companies do not have a presence, " the State Department said.  

Bahamas travel warning: Heading to the Bahamas? Here's what you should know about travel warning

Carnival sails out of four Florida ports

Carnival offers tours out of four Florida locations : Jacksonville, Port Canaveral, Miami and Tampa.

Carnival Elation sails out of Jacksonville, offering tours to the Bahamas and Caribbean.

Five ships — Mardi Gras,Vista, Freedom, Glory, Liberty — sail out of Cape Canaveral . Destinations depend on the ship and range from the Bahamas and Caribbean to transatlantic cruises and the Panama Canal.

Six ships — Celebration, Spirit, Horizon, Sunrise, Magic, and Conquest — sail out of Miami . Destinations depend on the ship and range from the Bahamas and Caribbean to Alaska, transatlantic cruises and the Panama Canal.

Five ships — Spirit, Miracle, Legend, Paradise and Price — sail out of Tampa . Destinations depend on the ship and range from the Bahamas and Caribbean to Alaska, Seattle, Greenland, Canada, Mexico, transatlantic cruises and the Panama Canal.

Top Carnival destinations from Florida ports

The top destinations for a Carnival cruise out of Florida are:

• Caribbean and Mexico: Ports of call include Celebration Key; Cozumel; Grand Cayman; Nassau; Freeport; Belize; Mahogany Bay; St. Thomas; Bimini; Progreso, Yucatan; San Juan; Key West; Half Moon Cay; St. Maarten; St. Kitts; Montego Bay; Ocho Rios; St. Lucia; Grand Turk; Barbados; Curacao; Costa Maya; La Romana; Princess Cays; Falmouth; Antigua; Bonaire; Bermuda; Grenada; Amber Cove; Dominca; Santa Marta; Miami; Galveston; Port Canaveral; New Orleans; Tampa; Charleston, South Carolina; Baltimore, Maryland; New York City; Mobile.
• Bahamas: Ports of call include Celebration Key; Nassau; Bimini; Freeport; Baltimore; Charleston; Half Moon Cay; Jacksonville; Miami; Norfolk; Port Canaveral; Princess Cays.
• Panama Canal: Destinations include Panama Canal transit; Panama Canal partial transit; Cartagena; Limon; Celebration Key; Cozumel; Ocho Rios; Grand Turk; Half Moon Cay; Amber Cove; Aruba; Bonaire; Montego Bay; Puntarenas; Colon; Santa Marta; Curacao; Huatulco; Grand Cayman; Puerto Quetzal; Cabo San Lucas; Seattle; Baltimore; Tampa; Miami; Galveston; New Orleans.
• Transatlantic: Ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; Celebration Key; Grand Turk; La Coruna; Las Palmas; Praia Da Vitoria, Azore; Malaga; Tenerife; Valencia; Lisbon; Vigo; Gibraltar; Bermuda; Halifax, Nova Scotia; Ponta Delgada; Alicante; Barcelona; Southhampton, London; Tampa; Miami.

Mexico, Caribbean travel advisories: Many Caribbean islands have travel advisories, so here are 10 Florida islands for vacation

US Embassy, State Department offer these tips if you go to the Bahamas

• Exercise extreme caution in the eastern part of New Providence Island (Nassau).
• Use caution when walking or driving at night.
• Keep a low profile.
• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Do not physically resist any robbery attempt.
• Review your personal security plans.
• If you decide to travel to The Bahamas,  do not answer your door at your hotel/residence unless you know who it is.  

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2 arrested in Bahamas sex assault case

Two resort staffers in the Bahamas were arrested after a pair of American women on vacation said they were drugged and assaulted, police said.

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Not Above the Law: Addressing Police Misconduct in The Bahamas

“If one confronts the police, they need to be prepared to meet their maker.” — Police Commissioner Paul Rolle’s response when asked about the use of force by his officers in August 2020. 

In an op-ed posted on Eye Witness News’ online publication, author Devonté Hanna sought to highlight the many instances of “visible” police misconduct that has occurred recently. Mr. Hanna particularly referred to the June 13, 2020, police-involved shooting of three men in Nassau as an example of the continuing use of what he claims is “undue force” by the police. Since that incident, several more police-involved shootings have occurred, with the most recent incident transpiring in February of this year. In March of this year, an audio recording went viral of a man who was subjected to abuse while in police custody. The officer involved was placed on administrative leave. However, the same officer has subsequently retired without any,  further information regarding the outcome of this incident.

It is not uncommon amongst Bahamians and other residents of The Bahamas to have either experienced police misconduct or known someone who has. There has always been a fear of being picked up by the police and possibly being subjected to beatings in custody. According to former Police Commissioner Anthony Ferguson, in 2019, 151 complaints were filed against the police, with more than 50% of them being for the use of “unethical behavior.”

At the date of writing this article, I have not been able to find updated statistics.

However, in addition to matters that have been reported and are formally on record, it is safe to assume that many others were largely unreported. More so, it is compelling to see that at minimum 75 of those complaints in the 2019 statistics were attributed to “unethical behavior”. 

The Police Act, 1965, (“the Act”) is the statute that governs and empowers the Royal Bahamas Police Force to carry out its duties and governs officers general conduct. However, upon careful review, it is noted that while there are provisions in place for officers who are found guilty of misconduct, the Act fails to provide a definition as to what misconduct is. Failure to give a definitive definition leads me to believe that the “idea” of misconduct is not held as an objective standard. Instead, it falls as a subjective standard. This can mean that what may be deemed as misconduct in one situation may not be deemed as misconduct in another. Is this the best way to determine what constitutes misconduct? 

Over the last twenty years , there has been a significant increase in persons submitting their grievances regarding police misconduct (i.e., unethical behavior) to the courts. The cases that make their way to the end all have the same trending factors: police misconduct and some

loss of liberty. Most notable are the cases of Tynes v Barr [1994] 45 WIR 7, Merson v Attorney General [2005] UKPC 38 and Shorn Scott v The Attorney General of The Bahamas et al. [2017] UKPC 15. In each action, all the Plaintiffs were subjected to some form of police misconduct, such as assault, battery, and false imprisonment. However, there have been other cases where the facts of the case regarding police misconduct were so egregious that it is understandable why the Court reached its conclusion. In the case of Gilford Lloyd v Chief Superintendent Cunningham, the Commissioner of Police of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas and the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, 2016/CLE/gen/00062 on January 9, 2015, Mr. Lloyd was assaulted by two members of the Royal Bahamas Police Force who unlawfully entered his residence, held a gun to his forehead, demanded that he get down, handcuffed him and escorted him outside and into the presence of the First Defendant, Chief Superintendent Cunningham. He alleged that he was ordered to stand at the side of a police car while most of his neighbors stood outside their residences looking on. After about thirty minutes, Chief Superintendent Cunningham ordered the removal of Mr. Lloyd’s handcuffs, and he was released. The Defendants denied that the incident occurred and gave evidence that there were no incident reports on file to support Mr. Lloyd’s version of events. However, the Court found Mr. Lloyd to be more credible as he had produced another witness to the incident and ultimately found in favor of Mr. Lloyd’s claims against the Defendants for assault, unlawful arrest, and false imprisonment. 

The cases highlighted above are only a snapshot of incidents that have been reported and presented before the courts. Mr. Hanna notes in his article that the 2019 survey also revealed that less than half of the participants indicated that they had confidence in the police. This provides a stark reality against a backdrop of continuing crime rates without any foreseeable plan in place. What then can be done to cure a landscape where stakeholders, that is, the Bahamian people, no longer feel protected by the ones put in place to protect them? Mr. Hanna suggests an overhaul of police training to include counseling, social work, and crisis intervention to enable them to effectively handle, protect and serve the communities they police. Ultimately, it starts with treating the stakeholders in these communities as persons with a voice and not potential criminals. 

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Police investigating alleged sexual assault of tourist

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NASSAU, BAHAMAS – Police in the capital are investigating the alleged sexual assault of an adult female tourist, on Saturday, May 4, 2019.

According to police reports, shortly after 11:00a.m. on Saturday, the tourist was at a beach on Paradise Island, when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a 34-year-old Bahamian male, who was later taken into custody and is assisting police.

Investigations are ongoing.

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Bahamas resort refutes American cruise ship passengers' sex attack warning

A Bahamian resort has said two American women's allegations of drug-laced cocktails and sexual assaults "conflict" with its 16 "time-stamped surveillance videos."

Amber Shearer and Dongayla Dobson, lifelong friends from Kentucky , were enjoying a kid-free vacation when they stopped on Grand Bahama Island during a Carnival cruise. 

They said they felt woozy after a couple of sips of their drinks, lost consciousness and were sexually assaulted by resort employees, according to news outlets and their own posts on social media. They tested positive for high levels of drugs.

The resort, Pirate's Cove in Freeport, Bahamas, said in a statement the "lengthy videos of all concerned" were handed over to local police. The FBI is also part of the investigation. 

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The resort did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for more information or answer follow-up questions about what resort officials saw on their cameras that "conflict" with the women's allegations. 

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"We regret that our guests experienced this incident, and we remain steadfast in our commitment to aid police in the collection of evidence in response to these allegations, including providing police access to video where the assault of the two guests allegedly occurred," the resort said in its statement. 

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The Freeport resort said it called law enforcement and medical personnel and took "swift" action by firing the two resort employees for violating resort policy.

"We have a zero-tolerance policy for fraternizing with guests or behaving in a manner that is unsafe," the resort's statement says. 

"While there is an active police investigation into these serious allegations, we have terminated the employment of the two accused, as the behavior seen on tape by management indicates that, at a minimum, they violated our zero-tolerance policy."

"Local authorities and paramedics were called to the scene and Pirates Cove management assisted in identifying and locating the two alleged suspects," the Freeport resort's statement goes on to say. "In addition, after the police concluded their initial investigation, we assisted in transporting the women back to their cruise ship after guests refused transportation to the hospital."

The women have not responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment, and the FBI did not immediately respond with a comment about their involvement. 

The Royal Bahama Police Force said in a Feb. 4 statement that they arrested two men – ages 54 and 40 – in connection with the alleged sexual assault. Their names were not released. 

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In a follow-up statement, the Royal Bahama Police Force told the Nassau Guardian that the women declined medical assistance and signed a waiver before leaving for their cruise ship "in a private vehicle."

"Recognizing the gravity of the incident, our officers boarded the cruise ship, providing a sexual assault kit and hospital form to the ship’s medical doctor and obtained signed statements from the victims," the statement says. 

"Preliminary reports suggest the incident occurred shortly after noon at a central Grand Bahama beach. Upon learning of the incident, our officers immediately commenced investigations, leading to the arrest of two adult males, aged 54 and 40."

Carnival Cruise Line said the two guests aboard the Carnival Elation reported the sexual assault that occurred on "an independent shore excursion," according to the New York Post . 

"Our onboard Care Team provided support for the two guests as they sailed back to Jacksonville," the cruise company said.

As the resort fights the women's allegations with its own statement, the United States Department of State and the Bahamian government exchanged cutting barbs over the department's level-two travel advisory warning because of rising levels of crime.

"The majority of crime occurs on New Providence (Nassau) and Grand Bahama (Freeport) islands," according to the State Department's late January warning , which mentioned spikes in violent crimes like armed robberies and sexual assaults because of gang activity. 

Bahamian Prime Minister Philip Davis came out swinging by saying many tourism locations share the same level two designation. 

"The incidents described in the January 2024 US Embassy crime alert do not reflect general safety in The Bahamas, a count of sixteen tourist destinations, and many more islands," Davis said on Jan. 29, five days after the U.S. warning. 

He said the Bahamian government "is alert, attentive and proactive to ensure that The Bahamas remains a safe and welcoming destination."

Nearly the entire Bahamian economy is at stake when it comes to tourism, which accounts for approximately 70% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product and employs just over half of the workforce, according to an October 2022 report by the International Trade Administration . 

The Bahamas was on track to welcome over 7 million American tourists by the end of 2023, according to the state department's most recent Investment Climate Statement, which was released in 2023. 

Original article source: Bahamas resort refutes American cruise ship passengers' sex attack warning