By Fouye Rasin Nou, Sept. 21, 2026
A case involving officers of the Haitian National Police (PNH)
The incident has sparked reactions in Jacmel. On the evening of Sunday, September 20, 2026, Jimmy Baptiste claims he was violently attacked by a group of masked police officers inside the Kay-Zot bar. The following day, he went to the Jacmel prosecutor's office, accompanied by his lawyers, to file a formal complaint. They allege that the incident constitutes attempted murder.
According to witness statements, more than eight masked, plainclothes, and heavily armed police officers entered the establishment while Jimmy Baptiste was inside. He was not shown a warrant, and no reason for the intervention was given, according to his account and those of others present. No justice of the peace was present with the officers.
Jimmy Baptiste explains that he was leaving a party and was, as he usually does on weekends, at the Kay-Zot bar. He was standing near the entrance and checking his phone when the group of police officers arrived, around midnight.
Upon seeing the officers enter, he claims he stepped back to let them pass. According to him, the police then approached him and struck him repeatedly with their batons.
Jimmy Baptiste claims he was beaten so violently that he had difficulty breathing. He believes the presence of other patrons in the bar prevented the situation from escalating.
The reported intervention also raises a question regarding the guarantees of individual liberty provided by the Haitian Constitution. According to the constitutional provisions concerning arrests and searches, except in cases of flagrant offense, certain coercive measures are subject to specific conditions, particularly regarding warrants and timing.
In the case reported in Jacmel, the intervention took place around midnight, and according to witness statements, no warrant was presented to Jimmy Baptiste. The legality of the operation will therefore need to be examined by the judicial authorities. The question of whether the suspect was caught in the act will also need to be clarified.
Helson Royal, former deputy mayor of Jacmel, strongly condemned the behavior of the group of police officers he accuses of participating in the attack. He called these officers "Bakòp delamò," a Creole expression that can be translated as "death squad."
He also stated that he initially thought they might be members of an armed group, specifically mentioning the name Izo "5 seconds", as the intervention seemed so unusual to him at that time of night.
Helson Royal called on the state to remove from the police force, in his own words, officers he considers "bandits." He also claimed that some police officers might have an interest in seeing insecurity worsen in order to receive higher hazard pay. These statements are his own and do not constitute established facts at this stage.
Following the incident, Jimmy Baptiste and some relatives reportedly went to the Jacmel police station to file a complaint. According to information gathered, the officer in charge refused to register the complaint.
If this refusal is confirmed, it would raise questions about access to appeal mechanisms when a case directly involves members of law enforcement.
On Monday, September 21, 2026, Jimmy Baptiste appeared at the Jacmel Prosecutor's Office, accompanied by lawyers Witny Succès and Mushi Jean-Baptiste, to formally file his complaint. The lawyers presented, among other things, a medical certificate issued by Saint-Michel Hospital in Jacmel and a petition.
Jimmy Baptiste's lawyers consider the reported events to constitute attempted murder. This classification reflects their assessment of the facts and will be examined by the competent judicial authorities.
According to Me Witny Succès, the group of police officers involved in the incident had been circulating in the area since around 7 or 8 p.m. in a "bakòp" type vehicle.
The lawyer believes the situation could have been much worse if the people in the bar hadn't intervened. He reports that, at the time of the attack, some people shouted:
“Mezanni, nou pap vinn touyel la no. »
Mr. Succès also claims that the police officers primarily used their batons and firearms during the intervention. According to him, the beatings stopped after the customers present in the establishment intervened.
The lawyer argues that these elements could, according to his legal analysis, constitute a commencement of execution within the framework of the criminal qualification that he intends to assert before the court.
The case is causing reactions in Jacmel and raising questions about the conditions of the intervention, the use of force and the respect for the guarantees provided by law.
An investigation will be necessary to determine why the police intervened at the establishment, the context in which they acted, whether there was a situation of flagrant offense, which officers were present, and the circumstances under which the blows were inflicted. It will also be necessary to establish whether the force used was justified, necessary, and proportionate.
At this stage, the accusations made by Jimmy Baptiste, his lawyers and the witnesses must be distinguished from the facts that have been definitively established by a judicial authority.
The statements from the officers involved, their superiors, and the head of the Jacmel police station are still pending. Judicial and police authorities are called upon to fully investigate this matter and determine any potential responsibilities.
Posted Oct. 18, 2026