Toronto man's beating probed in Grenada

TORONTO, Dec. 29 (UPI) -- Relatives of a Canadian man who died after an alleged police station beating have been assured the Caribbean country of Grenada will investigate the incident.

Oscar Bartholomew, 39, died in a hospital Tuesday, a day after allegedly being beaten in a Royal Grenada Police Force station in the town of St. David's. He and wife had stopped at the station so his wife could use the bathroom, family members in Toronto said.

Bartholomew, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound carpenter was visiting his mother for Christmas.

While waiting for his wife in the police station, family members said he thought he recognized a female friend from his childhood. He reportedly approached her from behind, gave her a bear hug and lifted her from the ground.

It wasn't his friend, but rather a female police officer. Witnesses said other officers swarmed him and placed him in a cell. He was later hospitalized and died the next day.

Grenada Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and a local member of parliament visited Bartholomew's mother Wednesday to express condolences and promise a full investigation, local media said.

George Grant, president of Grenada Broadcasting told the Sun newspaper by telephone the entire island is shocked about the possibility of police brutality.

"There are about 700 cops and most work very hard with limited resources," he said. "But there are a few bad eggs, just as there are anywhere."