Friday 8th May 2026 – Turks and Caicos Islands
Yesterday, Thursday 7th May Kirton Sutton appeared before Chief Magistrate Joylon Hatmin in the Magistrate’s Court, where he was arraigned on six charges. Sutton pleaded not guilty to all counts, and the matter was subsequently adjourned.
Upon arriving at court, Sutton spoke willingly with Eagle Legal News court correspondent, showing no reluctance to address the camera. During the interaction, he indicated that he intends to further communicate with the media regarding several seriously concerning matters. He also claims to be prepared to reveal concerning activities within the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force over the past year under the leadership of Commissioner Fitz Bailey.
While acknowledging that serious crime in the Turks and Caicos Islands has declined since Commissioner Bailey assumed command of the police force, questions are now being raised about the methods allegedly used to achieve those results. Murders and other violent crimes have significantly decreased, and many residents feel safer as shootings, rapes, and home invasions have reportedly declined. However, concerns continue to grow over whether some police operations may have crossed legal boundaries.
Information received by Eagle Legal News suggests allegations of questionable police killings involving individuals who, according to some sources and now speaking police officers, says, some of those individuals killed by police should have otherwise faced the courts through the proper legal process.
Critics argue that some suspects who died during police operations should have been arrested and prosecuted instead of being killed.
Others, however, maintain that the aggressive approach taken by Commissioner Bailey and officers brought from Jamaica has restored order and safety to the country after years of escalating violent crime and concerns over weaknesses in the justice system.
The discussion has intensified following several controversial police shootings in recent months. In one case, a grieving mother publicly accused police of unlawfully killing her son, insisting that he was unarmed at the time of the incident.
Questions have also been raised about the fatal shooting of two men behind the gas station on Millennium Highway. One of the deceased was reportedly a Jamaican national and the other a Haitian national. This was confirmed to us that the Haitian man had no known criminal record in the Turks and Caicos Islands but was allegedly associated with the Jamaican individual. He was suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and other criminal illegal entry and illegal migration activities.
According to information obtained, the Haitian national had reportedly been arrested and was in police custody at the Grace Bay and Chalk Sound police stations before the Jamaican officers allegedly transported him to assist in locating the Jamaican suspect. Both men were killed in the depth of the bushes during the operation.
Reports suggest police claimed the Haitian suspect attempted to reach for an officer’s firearm, forcing officers to respond with deadly force. Nevertheless, critics continue to question how an individual already in police custody ultimately ended up dead during the operation in the bushes while still handcuffed.
Additional concerns have also emerged regarding the investigations into all the alleged police shootings.
Questions are reportedly being asked about whether the investigations are sufficiently independent, as one investigator from the Cayman Islands Mr Joseph Wright has allegedly handled several or all of the reviews, many of which reportedly concluded that the shootings were justified.
All of these matters are expected to come before the Coroner’s Court, where further findings may be made regarding the legality and circumstances of the police shooting operations.
Supporters of Sutton argue that the information he intends to reveal may form part of his defense. According to claims surrounding the case, Sutton allegedly feared for his life during the incident that led to his arrest because he believed certain of these Jamaican officers had previously acted unlawfully in other operations.
It is expected that Sutton’s legal defense may argue that his actions on the night in question were influenced by fear and distrust of the Jamaican officers involved in the attempted road stops, rather than an intention to obstruct police.
The case has sparked wider public debate about policing methods in the Turks and Caicos Islands, balancing public safety against concerns about due process, accountability, and the lawful use of force.
Mr. Sutton also addressed the court before Chief Magistrate Joylon Hatmin regarding the charges brought against him.
According to Sutton, the matters had previously been reviewed by the former Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), who allegedly did not direct that any criminal action be taken against him. Sutton stated that he had been given the impression that the matters would not proceed further because there was insufficient basis for criminal charges relating to his conduct.
However, Sutton claimed that after the appointment of the new Jamaican DPP, Commissioner Fitz Bailey resubmitted the files for reconsideration. Sutton alleged in court that the Commissioner and the new DPP were associates and friends and that the matter was revisited due to personal issues arising between himself and Jamaican officers involved in the incident.
Sutton further claimed that Commissioner Bailey had already suspended him from duty while, according to him, other officers facing criminal charges — including a Jamaican female officer — had not been suspended. He argued that this amounted to unfair treatment and selective disciplinary action within the police force.
Additional concerns were raised during the court proceedings regarding the evidence supporting one of the charges against Sutton.
It was reportedly revealed in court that investigators had not yet obtained a formal statement from the officer who alleged that Sutton assaulted him. Sutton questioned how criminal charges could proceed or be brought when, according to what was discussed in court, no statement had yet been secured from the complainant officer.
The matter reportedly involves Assistant Superintendent of Police Kenville Charles, who was said to be involved in investigating this case from an internal perspective.
Sutton questioned what he described as the apparent urgency in charging him despite the alleged absence of key witness statements. He also raised concerns about the handling of the investigation and whether proper procedures had been followed before the charges were laid.
It was further revealed in court that the officer who allegedly accused Sutton of assault has reportedly already left the Turks and Caicos Islands. Questions were also raised regarding the absence of ASP Charles, who had reportedly been tasked with aspects of the internal investigation into the incident. Including any findings or results of Mr Sutton complaint against the officers who assaulted him. Why is his side of the investigation being kept silent.
The developments have added further scrutiny to the case, particularly after earlier public statements reportedly made by Commissioner Bailey in response to reporting by Eagle Legal News. At the time, it was allegedly indicated that the matter would be handled internally rather than through criminal open court proceedings.
The case has since evolved into a wider public controversy involving allegations murders, misconduct, concerns over police accountability, and questions about the handling of disciplinary and criminal investigations within the Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force.
