Police Officers Pelted With Stones in Kroo Town Riot Case

Police Officers Pelted With Stones in Kroo Town Riot Case

Police officers responding to a reported riot on Kroo Town Road were pelted with stones and bottles, an operations officer testified in court on Monday, as key physical evidence was admitted into the record.

Testifying before Principal Magistrate Mustapha Briama Jah, Police Inspector Ishmael Kelfala of the Operations Support Department stated he was dispatched to the scene around 4:00 p.m. on September 13 following reports of a severe public disturbance.

Led in evidence by prosecutor ASP Dalia Wellington, Inspector Kelfala explained that he assembled a Public Order team, including Superintendent Kaiya, and deployed via Adelaide Street, where they first encountered a hostile crowd armed with missiles.

According to Kelfala, the crowd chased officers down Adelaide Street. Near Choithram Supermarket, police attempts to de-escalate the situation were met with a volley of stones and bottles, prompting officers to make multiple arrests.

Specific defendants were identified in connection with weapons recovered at the scene: Foday Kargbo was allegedly found with an old flat-blade cutlass, Daniel Morray with a locally made cutlass, and a third defendant with an empty stout bottle. Eight initial suspects were taken into custody and transferred to CID Headquarters.

Under cross-examination by lead defence counsel I. Sawaneh, Inspector Kelfala confirmed he acted under direct orders from central dispatch ("Control One") and reiterated that the individuals intercepted at Adelaide Street Junction were part of the group rioting on Kroo Town Road.

The court also heard testimony from Sergeant 8576 Issa Kamara of the CID Exhibit Office, who confirmed receiving three items from Police Constable 15041 Konneh M. on September 15: two cutlasses and an empty stout bottle.

Sergeant Kamara testified that the items were registered under serial number 125/2026 and remained securely in police custody until being formally tendered and admitted as evidence in court.

The defendants face four statutory counts under the Public Order Act, including possession of offensive weapons, throwing missiles, riotous conduct, and disorderly behaviour. All charges stem from the September 13 incident and remain to be proven in court.

Defense counsel Sawaneh renewed an application for bail on behalf of the accused, but Magistrate Jah denied the request. The matter has been adjourned to October 19 for further hearing.