–As “Partisan” Police Officers Disrobed For Aiding and Abetting the Escape Of Murder Suspect
A breach of national security happened at the Liberia National Police (LNP) that resulted in the escape of murder suspect Peaches Queen Johnson last Friday, January 5, 2024 at the Red Lion Club on Broad and Buchanan Street.
In December 2023, the LNP declared Peaches Queen Johnson and other supporters of the main opposition Unity Party wanted in connection with the alleged massive flogging and subsequent death of 35-year-old Joshua Solomon, a partisan of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Queen Johnson, whose face is reportedly seen in the gruesome video in which Solomon was brutally beaten, had been on the run after she and others were declared wanted by the police.
The police stated that following its preliminary report that medical records of the deceased suggested that Solomon died from internal bleeding, the public was asked to assist with information leading to the arrest of Johnson.
Few weeks later, Johnson appeared in the public following the burial of her mother who died recently.
Following a tip-off from the public, the LNP launched a special operation leading to the arrest of Johnson on the night of Friday, January 5, 2023 at the Red Lion Club.
During a news conference over the weekend, the LNP Spokesperson, Moses Carter, said when Johnson was spotted at the Red Lion police officers were alerted and immediately responded.
“The situation was very tense as several of her loyalists resisted her arrest; however, professionalism by the responding officers was exhibited in ensuring that Madam Johnson was extracted from the crowd,” Carter explained.
Carter stated that following the arrest of Johnson, the Chief Inspector of Police, Ithamar Harding (Unit 187), who is also the Chief of Technical Services of the Liberia National Police requested that the suspect drive along with him to the headquarters of the Police for investigation.
Carter added that because Inspector Harding was a ranking officer among those who responded, the junior officers had no choice to resist the instruction but to drive behind the senior officer who was driving Queen Johnson.
“Unfortunately, while in route to the Headquarters of the Liberia National Police to have Madam Johnson face investigation; Madam Johnson was driven off the headquarters of the Liberia National Police in the vehicle operated by one of our officers [Ithamar Harding (Unit 187),” Carter said.
While describing the situation as a serious setback and a dent on the credibility of the Police, Carter said all of the arresting officers including scores of officers of the LNP Anti-robbery Unit and others from the Police Support Unit that effectuated the arrest on Friday, have been disrobed and turned over to the LNP Professional Standard Division for investigation regarding the escape of Johnson.
The police is struggling to investigate how this breach in national security occurred despite the number of officers who responded to have the suspect arrested.
At the same time, Carter asserted that since Harding (Unit 187) absconded with the suspect, his whereabouts and the police vehicle including the suspect remain unknown.
“Mr. Harding has been disrobed with immediate effect and forwarded to the Professional Standard Division in line with the rest of the other officers for questioning on how Madam Johnson absconded,” he said.